COLOMBO: Cash-strapped Sri Lanka voted for its next president on Saturday (Sep 21) in an effective referendum on an unpopular International Monetary Fund austerity plan enacted after the island nation's unprecedented financial crisis.
Turnout was at nearly 70 per cent an hour before polling stations closed at 4pm (10.30am GMT), an election commission official said, citing provisional figures.
The record for voter turnout in a Sri Lankan presidential election was set in 2019 with 83.72 per cent.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe is fighting an uphill battle for a fresh mandate to continue belt-tightening measures that stabilised the economy and ended months of food, fuel and medicine shortages.
His two years in office restored calm to the streets after civil unrest spurred by the downturn in 2022 saw thousands storm the compound of his predecessor, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who promptly fled the country.
"I've taken this country out of bankruptcy," Wickremesinghe, 75, said after casting his ballot in the morning.
"I will now deliver Sri Lanka a developed economypeso 888, developed social system and developed political system."
Sri Lankan president and independent presidential candidate Ranil Wickremesinghe shows an indelible mark on his baby finger after casting his vote, in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Sep 21, 2024. (Photo: AP/Rajesh Kumar Singh)