"No violence after the vote": Sri Lankan presidential candidate appeals for calm in election - Video
Sri Lankan presidential candidate Anura Kumara Dissanayaka of the National People's Power (NPP) has urged voters to remain peaceful and avoid clashes after casting his ballot in the country's critical election.
"A sign of democracy is the right to work for any political party and vote for anyone. We should protect that right," he said, calling for a new political culture free from violence after the election.
Dissanayaka expressed confidence that President Ranil Wickremesinghe would allow a peaceful transition if defeated, saying, "I trust the president will make way for the democratically elected successor and retire," he told the AFP.
Wickremesinghe, who is seeking a fresh mandate after stabilising Sri Lanka’s economy following a severe crisis in 2022, reaffirmed his commitment to rebuilding the nation after casting his vote.
"I've taken this country out of bankruptcy," said the 75-year-old president. "I will now deliver Sri Lanka a developed economy, social system, and political system."
