2024 Sri Lankan presidential election

9th quinquennial Sri Lankan presidential election

2024 Sri Lankan presidential election
← 2022 21 September 2024 2029 →
 
Candidate Ranil Wickremesinghe Sajith Premadasa
Party Independent SJB
 
Candidate Anura Kumara Dissanayake Namal Rajapaksa
Party NPP SLPP
Incumbent President

Ranil Wickremesinghe
UNP



Presidential elections are scheduled to be held in Sri Lanka on 21 September 2024.[1][2]

Voters will elect a president for a 5-year term. Incumbent president Ranil Wickremesinghe is running for re-election as an independent candidate.[3][4][5] This would make him the first incumbent president to run for re-election since Mahinda Rajapaksa in 2015.

Other candidates include Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa, NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Mahinda Rajapaksa's son Namal Rajapaksa.

Background

The last direct presidential elections held in Sri Lanka were in 2019, where SLPP candidate Gotabaya Rajapaksa won the election in a landslide victory, defeating his main opponent Sajith Premadasa.[6][7]

Rajapaksa would eventually resign on 14 July 2022 amidst the 2022 Sri Lankan protests.[8] This triggered an indirect presidential election via Parliament a week later, to elect a successor according to the Article 40 of the Constitution.[9] Ranil Wickremesinghe, who had been appointed as Prime Minister by Rajapaksa just two months earlier, received the most votes and was sworn in as the 9th President of Sri Lanka on 21 July 2022.[10][11]

Article 40 of the Constitution of Sri Lanka states that "Any person so succeeding to the office of President shall hold office only for the unexpired period of the term of office of the President vacating office.[12] President Wickremesinghe's term is due to expire on 17 November 2024.

Discussion surrounding the 2024 election has been a major topic since the beginning of the year. The Election Commission has stated that the election must be held between 17 September and 16 October, as required by the Constitution. On 26 July, the Election Commission issued a Gazette notification declaring that the election would be held on 21 September 2024, with nominations for candidates to be submitted by 15 August.[13] The commission chose to hold the election on a Saturday, stating that this would help ensure a high voter turnout. On the same day, Ranil Wickremesinghe announced his candidacy for a second term as president, running as an independent candidate.[1][5]

Recent Sri Lankan election results

Results

Election results
Dates of elections Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna
(SLPFA) 		Samagi Jana Balawegaya National People's Power Tamil National Alliance United National Party Others
Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes %
2019 presidential election 6,924,255 52.25% － － 418,553 3.16% － － 5,564,239 41.99%[i] 345,452 2.35%
2020 parliamentary election 6,853,690 59.09% 2,771,980 23.90% 445,958 3.84% 327,168 2.82% 249,435 2.15% 950,698 8.20%

Maps

Election results map
2019 presidential election 2020 parliamentary election
Elected members of each electoral district or municipality, gaining the highest number of votes
■ SLPFA ■ SJB ■ TNA ■ SLFP ■ EPDP ■ Other parties

Electoral system

Type of electoral system

The President of Sri Lanka is elected through a system of limited ranked voting. Voters can express up to three ranked preferences for the presidency. If no candidate receives more than 50% of all valid votes in the first count, all candidates except the two who received the highest number of votes are eliminated. The second and third preference votes of the eliminated candidates are then redistributed to the remaining two candidates until one of them secures an outright majority.[14]

In practice, this system has seen no use. Every presidential election since the first in 1982 has resulted in a candidate from one of the major parties or alliances winning an outright majority in the first count. Consequently, most voters choose to mark only one candidate on their ballots, and many are either unaware that they can rank multiple candidates or choose not to exercise that prerogative.[15][16]

Voting procedure

The Election Commission outlined the voting procedure on 30 August 2024, detailing the ranked voting system due to the multiple candidates contesting the presidential election, ensuring voters were informed on how to cast and submit their ballots.[17][18]

Postal voting

The Election Commission announced the dates and locations for postal voting in a media release on 29 August 2024. This facility is available only to pre-approved officials engaged in election duties.[19][20] Postal voting will be conducted on 4, 5, 6, 11, and 12 September, strictly according to the provided schedule.[21][22]

Ballot boxes and security systems

The Election Commission of Sri Lanka is reportedly considering the exclusive use of cardboard ballot boxes in the upcoming elections, replacing the traditional wooden ones. A mix of wooden and cardboard ballot boxes was utilised during the 2019 Sri Lankan presidential election and the 2020 Sri Lankan parliamentary election.[23]

Candidates

By the end of candidate registration on 15 August, the Election Commission had accepted a total of 39 applications for the presidential election, the highest number ever recorded for a presidential election in Sri Lanka.[24] One candidate died prior to the election.[25] Despite the record number of candidates, none were female.[26][27]

Major candidates

Candidate Political office and constituency Endorsements Notes Ref.

Ranil Wickremesinghe (75)
Independent 		Current President of Sri Lanka (since 2022)
Leader of the United National Party (since 1994)
Former Prime Minister of Sri Lanka (1993–1994, 2001–2004, 2015–2018, 2018-2019, 2022)
  • Declared 26 July 2024
  • Previously ran in 1999 and 2005.
 [4]

Sajith Premadasa (57)
Samagi Jana Balawegaya 		Current Leader of the Opposition (since 2019)
Leader of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (since 2020)
Colombo 		[47]

Anura Kumara Dissanayake (55)
National People's Power 		Former Minister and Chief Opposition Whip (2015–2018)
Leader of the National People's Power (since 2015)
Leader of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (since 2014)
Colombo
  • Declared 29 August 2023
  • Previously ran in 2019.
 [48]

Field Marshal
Sarath Fonseka (73)
Independent 		5th Chief of the Defence Staff (2009)
Former Minister of Regional Development (2016–2018), Minister of Wildlife and Sustainable Development (2018)
18th Commander of the Sri Lanka Army (2005–2009)
Gampaha
  • Declared 25 July 2024
  • Previously ran in 2010.
 [49]

Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe (65)
National Democratic Front 		Former Minister of Justice (2022–2024)
Former Minister of Buddha Sasana (2015–2017), Minister of Higher Education (2018), Minister of Education (2018)
Colombo
  • Declared on 25 July 2024
 [50]

Namal Rajapaksa (38)
Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna 		Former Minister of Youth and Sports (2020–2022)
Hambantota 		[51]

Minor candidates

In addition to the six candidates mentioned above, there are 33 other candidates running in the election.[52][53]

Candidate Party Symbol[54] Notes
Siripala Amarasinghe Independent Tyre Former JVP/UPFA MP for Gampaha.[55] Presidential candidate in 2019.
Chaminda Anuruddha Independent Horseshoe
P. Ariyanethiran Independent Conch shell Former ITAK/TNA MP for Batticaloa.[56] Endorsed by the EPRLF, PLOTE, TELO, Tamil National Party and TMK.[57]
D. M. Bandaranaike Independent Table fan
P. W. S. K. Bandaranayake National Development Front Coconut Academic at the University of Peradeniya.[58]
Nuwan Bopage Socialist People's Forum Umbrella Aragalaya activist.[59] Endorsed by the FSP and New Democratic Marxist–Leninist Party.[60]
Akmeemana Dayarathana Thero Independent Blackboard Former JHU/UPFA MP for Colombo.[61]
Mahinda Dewage Socialist Party of Sri Lanka Balloon
Oshala Herath New Independent Front Till Leader of New Independent Front.[62] Former UNP candidate in Colombo.[63]
Mohamed Illiyas Independent Syringe Former SLMC MP for Jaffna.[64] Presidential candidate in 2010 (endorsed Sarath Fonseka), 2015 and 2019.[65] Died on 22 August 2024.[25]
Abubakar Mohamed Infaz Democratic Unity Alliance Two leaves
Sidney Jayarathna Independent Jackfruit Former UNP/UNFGG MP for Polonnaruwa.[66]
Siritunga Jayasuriya United Socialist Party Tri-shaw Presidential candidate in 2005, 2010, 2015 and 2019.
Dilith Jayaweera Communist Party of Sri Lanka Star Leader of Mawbima Janatha Pakshaya.[67] Endorsed by the Sarvajana Balaya.[68]
Sarath Keerthirathne Independent Football Former Deputy Minister. Former SLFP/PA MP for Gampaha.[69] Presidential candidate in 2019.
K. R. Kishan Arunalu People's Front Water tap
Ananda Kularatne Independent Medal Former Cabinet Minister. Former UNP/UNF MP for Hambantota.[70]
A. S. P. Liyanage Sri Lanka Labour Party Kangaroo Presidential candidate in 2010, 2015 and 2019.
Sarath Manamendra New Sinhala Heritage Bow and arrow Presidential candidate in 2010, 2015 (endorsed Mahinda Rajapaksa) and 2019.[71]
Victor Anthony Perera Independent Motorbike Former SLFP/UPFA MP for Puttalam.[72]
K. K. Piyadasa Independent Calculator Former UNP/UNFGG MP for Nuwara Eliya.[73]
M. M. Premasiri Independent Pair of spectacles Former JVP/UPFA MP for Matara.[74]
Namal Rajapakshe Samabima Party Envelope Not to be confused with SLPP candidate Namal Rajapaksa nor the part of the Rajapaksa family.
Roshan Ranasinghe Independent Cricket bat Former Cabinet Minister. SLPP/SLPFA MP for Polonnaruwa.[75]
Janaka Ratnayake United Lanka People's Party Cup Former chairman of the PUCSL.[76]
Battaramulle Seelarathana Thero People's Welfare Front Tractor Presidential candidate in 2010, 2015 and 2019.
Lalith de Silva United National Freedom Front Comb of plantains
Suranjeewa Anoj de Silva Democratic United National Front Eagle
M. Thilakarajah Independent Bird feather Former NUW/UNFGG MP for Nuwara Eliya.[77]
Keerthi Wickremeratne Our People's Power Party Flag
Priyantha Wickremesinghe Nava Sama Samaja Party Table
Pani Wijesiriwardena Socialist Equality Party Pair of scissors Presidential candidate in 2015 and 2019.
Ajantha de Zoyza Ruhunu People's Party Pineapple Former SLFP/PA National List MP.[78] Presidential candidate in 2019 (endorsed Sajith Premadasa).[79]

One of the main reasons for the proliferation of candidates is the low election deposit required to contest – Rs. 50,000 (US$170) for party candidates and Rs. 75,000 (US$250) for independent candidates. These amounts that have remained unchanged since the introduction of presidential elections in 1982.[80][81]

Many of the minor candidates are proxy or dummy candidates put forward by the main contenders to maximise the benefits of candidacy, such as having two agents at every polling station, assigning counting agents, receiving free slots on state television, and gaining general media coverage.[82][83][84]

Declined and withdrew

The following candidates initially declared their intentions to contest the election but later declined and withdrew from the campaign.

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna
Sri Lanka Freedom Party

Failed to submit nomination papers

The following candidate placed his deposit before the nomination day but failed to appear and submit his nomination papers.

Independent

Sarath Kumara Gunaratna, former Deputy Minister and former Member of Parliament (2006-2015).[90]

Campaign

Election manifestos

The following candidates have published their election manifestos, outlining their key policies, plans, and promises to the electorate.

  • Ranil Wickremesinghe on 29 August 2024[91]
  • Sajith Premadasa on 29 August 2024[92]
  • Anura Kumara Dissanayake on 26 August 2024[93]
  • Namal Rajapaksa on 2 September 2024[94]
  • Dilith Jayaweera on 31 August 2024[95]

Election monitors

Following an invitation from the Election Commission of Sri Lanka, the European External Action Service (EEAS) of the European Union (EU) will deploy an Election Observation Mission (EOM) to observe the Presidential Election scheduled for 21 September.[96][97]

The Election Commission further announced that representatives from 12 countries have been invited to observe the upcoming election. Among those participating are South Asian countries such as India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and the Maldives, as well as a Commonwealth observer group (COG)[98] and representatives from the Asian Election Observation Network.[99]

Campaign finances

Expenditure cap and regulations

The Election Commission, through a Gazette notification (Gazette Extraordinary – No. 2397/66 on 16 August 2024), set an expenditure cap of Rs. 109 per voter for the 2024 presidential election. As a result, each candidate is now permitted to spend a maximum of Rs. 1.8 billion (Rs. 1,868,298,586).[100] These regulations have been enforced under the Regulation of Election Expenditure Act, No. 3 of 2023, which was certified on 24 January 2023.[101]

Candidate asset declarations

Under the Anti-Corruption Act, election candidates must submit a Declaration of Assets and Liabilities to the Commissioner of Elections with their nomination papers, covering assets and liabilities up to the date the election is announced.[102][103]

After candidates in the Presidential Election submitted their declarations to the Elections Commission on 15 August 2024, the deadline for nomination papers, the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) obtained and published redacted versions on its official website.[104][105]

Opinion polls

Institute for Health Policy

The following nationwide presidential poll was conducted by the Institute for Health Policy (IHP), an independent research institution.

It ranked Sajith Premadasa, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Ranil Wickremesinghe, and a generic SLPP candidate. All polls conducted before Namal Rajapaksa announced his candidacy on 7 August, including the IHP MRP Presidential Election Update June 2024 released on 1 August, did not account for his entry.[106][107]

Date Polling firm Dissanayake
NPP 		Premadasa
SJB 		Wickremesinghe
UNP 		SLPP Others Lead Margin
of error 		Sample
size
July 2024 Institute for Health Policy 37% 36 23% 4% — 1 ±1–3% 19,015
June 2024 Institute for Health Policy 30% 43% 20% 7% — 13 ±1–11% 18,213
May 2024 Institute for Health Policy 39% 38% 15% 7% — 1 ±1–4% 17,751
April 2024 Institute for Health Policy 39% 39% 13% 9% — Tie ±1–4% 17,134
March 2024 Institute for Health Policy 44% 41% 8% 7% — 3 ±1–4% 16,661
February 2024 Institute for Health Policy 53% 34% 6% 7% — 19 ±1–4% 16,234
January 2024 Institute for Health Policy 50% 36% 7% 7% — 14 ±1–4% 15,590
December 2023 Institute for Health Policy 50% 33% 9% 8% — 17 ±1–4% 14,941
October 2023 Institute for Health Policy 51% 30% 13% 6% — 21 ±1–4% 13,935
September 2023 Institute for Health Policy 46% 29% 17% 8% — 17 ±1–3% 13,431
August 2023 Institute for Health Policy 38% 35% 18% 9% — 3 ±1–3% 12,848
July 2023 Institute for Health Policy 39% 33% 19% 9% — 6 ±1–3% 12,269
June 2023 Institute for Health Policy 40% 35% 15% 9% — 5 ±1–3% 11,926
May 2023 Institute for Health Policy 38% 34% 18% 10% — 4 ±1–4% 11,897
April 2023 Institute for Health Policy 45% 37% 13% 6% — 8 ±1–4% 11,367
March 2023 Institute for Health Policy 48% 37% 11% 4% — 11 ±1–5% 10,601

Numbers.lk

Numbers.lk is a platform that curates and presents statistics related to Sri Lanka.

Date Polling firm Dissanayake
NPP 		Premadasa
SJB 		Wickremesinghe
UNP 		Rajapaksa
SLPP 		Others Lead Margin
of error 		Sample
size
9–23 August 2024 numbers.lk 43% 22% 27% 3% 4% 16 ±3% 3,900
4–18 April 2024 numbers.lk 46% 22% 18% — 14% 24 ±3.5% 2,048

Favourability ratings

Note:

  • Negative scores, which denote a net favourability rating below zero, indicate that the individual or institution is considered unpopular. In contrast, positive scores, where the net favourability is above zero, suggest that the individual or institution is generally regarded as popular.

January 2024

In the Institute for Health Policy (IHP) Sri Lanka Opinion Tracker Survey (SLOTS) polling, all major party candidates continued to have negative favourability ratings. The net favourability rating of NPP candidate Anura Kumara Dissanayake increased by 12 points to -10, while the favourability ratings of SJB candidate Sajith Premadasa and incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe each decreased by 9 points, to -53 and -77, respectively.[108]

March 2024

In IHP SLOTS polling, the net favourability rating of SJB leader Sajith Premadasa increased by 30 points to -30 in March compared to the previous month, while the favourability ratings of NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake and President Ranil Wickremesinghe remained relatively unchanged at -24 (down 2 points) and -78 (up 1 point), respectively.[109]

July 2024

In the IHP SLOTS polling conducted in July 2024, the net favourability rating of NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake rose by 29 points from June, reaching +3. President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s favourability improved by 40 points to -24, surpassing that of SJB leader Sajith Premadasa. Sajith Premadasa’s favourability rating changed little, shifting from -42 in June to -44 in July.[110]

Notes

  1. ^ New Democratic Front candidate led by the United National Party
  2. ^ Not eligible to contest due to holding dual citizenship

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