Sri Lanka will vote for a president next month, the first polls since ex-president Gotabaya Rajapaksa was toppled by protests during the island’s worst economic crisis two years ago.
Among those contending is incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe, elected by parliament in July 2022 to replace Gotabaya, a member of the once-powerful Rajapaksa clan.
A total of 39 are in the running, after nominations closed on Thursday.
Here are five key events explaining the twists and turns of Sri Lanka’s troubled politics ahead of the September 21 elections.
– April 2022: Rajapaksa rule –
Gotabaya Rajapaksa an ex-lieutenant-colonel described as a “terminator” by his family, was elected in 2019 — vowing to crush Islamist radicals, months after suicide bombings that killed 279 people.
Gotabaya Rajapaksa an ex-lieutenant-colonel described as a “terminator” by his family, was elected in 2019 — vowing to crush Islamist radicals, months after suicide bombings that killed 279 people.
He dramatically bolsters presidential powers.
His older brother, ex-president Mahinda, is named prime minister.
Younger brother Basil is finance minister.
Sri Lanka heads into a deep recession, with soaring living costs and a depreciating currency.
Widespread discontent drives many to the streets, with clashes between protesters and police.
On April 1 2022, Rajapaksa declares a state of emergency. Two days later his cabinet quits and violent protests escalate.
On April 12, Sri Lanka declares a sovereign default on its foreign debt for the first time ever, and Mahinda Rajapaksa resigns as prime minister.
Opposition political veteran Ranil Wickremesinghe — also deeply unpopular among protesters — takes his place.
July 2022: Wickremesinghe takes charge
On July 9, Rajapaksa flees his official residence with the assistance of troops, shortly before crowds storm the compound.
On July 14, Wickremesinghe is appointed acting president, with parliament later electing him for the remainder of Rajapaksa’s term.
Wickremesinghe embarks on an austerity programme to meet International Monetary Fund bailout conditions.
That includes doubling taxes and removing subsidies. He later rolls presidential powers, a key demand by protesters.
March 2023: IMF bailout
The IMF, the international lender of last resort, approves a $2.9 billion bailout loan.
That comes after China, Sri Lanka’s largest bilateral creditor, agrees to restructure its loans.
Sri Lanka’s central bank later unveils a debt restructuring plan.
But it takes months of tortuous negotiations to finalise a deal with bilateral creditors.
Over a year later, on July 4, 2024, a deal is struck with private creditors to restructure $12.5 billion in sovereign bonds with a 28 percent haircut.
– September 21, 2024: Elections –
The Election Commission sets presidential elections for September, after the Supreme Court shoots down Wickremesinghe’s repeated attempts to postpone elections by a year using a constitutional loophole.
Wickremesinghe, 75, faces a tough challenge.
Rivals include his old ally Sajith Premadasa, 57, and the young scion of the Rajapaksa family — Namal Rajapaksa, the 38-year-old son of Mahinda.
The economy is a key issue, with the country still reeling from its worst financial meltdown since independence from Britain in 1948.
Results are expected around a day later, with the president to be sworn into power within two weeks.
