Here Are The Main Contenders to Be Sri Lanka’s Next President
- Prime minister and leader of opposition are front-runners
- Position comes vacant with President Rajapaksa’s resignation
A demonstrator waves the national flag outside the president's office in Colombo, Sri Lanka, in July 15.
Photographer: Buddhika Weerasinghe/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
The race to select Sri Lanka’s next president has begun as Gotabaya Rajapaksa stepped down after fleeing to Singapore. The support of both lawmakers and protesters will be crucial for the new leader with the bankrupt country in bailout talks with the International Monetary Fund.
The South Asian island nation is going through the worst economic and political crisis since its independence in 1948. Food, fuel and medicines are in short supply as inflation is seen touching 70%.