No majority in Sri Lanka’s presidential election—runoff to decide future leadership

The Election Commission confirmed that Anura Kumara Dissanayake of the National People's Power (NPP) and opposition leader Sajith Premadasa will face off in a second round.

With none of the candidates obtaining over 50% of the vote, the winner will be determined by preferential votes. Dissanayake led the polls with 39.5%, followed by Premadasa with 34%. Incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe, along with other candidates, has been eliminated from the race.

The last direct presidential election in 2019 saw Gotabaya Rajapaksa secure a landslide victory, though his presidency ended abruptly in 2022 amid mass protests and a severe economic crisis. Following Rajapaksa's resignation, Wickremesinghe was appointed president.

Dissanayake, 55, has emerged as a figure for change, drawing support from those affected by austerity measures linked to Sri Lanka’s $2.9 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout.

If elected, he has pledged to dissolve parliament within 45 days and call for general elections to secure a fresh mandate for his policies.

Speaking after casting his vote, Dissanayake voiced his confidence in a peaceful transition, stating, "I trust the president will make way for the democratically elected successor and retire."

Political analysts say the election results reflect the public's demand for change following the 2022 protests.

"Voters have cast their ballots in line with aspirations for different political practices and institutions," Pradeep Peiris, political scientist at the University of Colombo told Reuters. He noted that Dissanayake "reflects these aspirations, and people have rallied around him."

The upcoming runoff will be crucial in determining the future leadership of Sri Lanka, as the nation continues to face significant economic and social challenges.