This is Sri Lanka’s 1st presidential election since its 2022 economic crisis. A 2nd round of counting is likely, a first in Sri Lankan history. Results expected by Sunday noon.
Tamils are Sri Lanka's largest minority group & usually vote as one block, but this time their vote is fractured. Plus, the 3 front-runners need significant Tamil support to reach majority.
Voting is underway at 13,134 polling stations in Sri Lanka, began at 7 am and will close at 4 pm local time. The counting of votes is expected to begin at 9:30 pm local time.
Sri Lankan transition was smoothly managed. Check Bangladesh for contrast. They forced their incumbent into exile, installed a mostly unelectable govt of non-political people.
Voters in Sri Lanka have to rank up to 3 candidates in order of preference. Candidate with 50% votes is declared winner; if nobody gets clear majority, race will boil down to top two candidates.
Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe, credited with fixing the nation’s economy, is up against 37 other candidates in Saturday's presidential poll.
UK's statement at the 57th Human Rights Council reiterated need for the Sri Lankan govt to build a conducive environment for for meaningful reconciliations and transitional justice.
The elections, with 39 candidates in fray, will be watched by India, China & West. Its location makes it key player in India’s Neighbourhood First policy & broader vision for Indian Ocean.
Three senior military officers from Bangladesh will be sent as observers, it is learnt. Sri Lanka will now participate with two B-200 Super King Air maritime surveillance aircraft.
CAG reports are still coming but the old bites and stings have gone missing. The CAG is still unsparing in some cases but the BJP may not mind it at all.
Research paper, however, finds lowest indebtedness level among Muslims at 12.3% & highest among Hindus at 14.9%. Overall national financial inclusion level at 87.2%, indebtedness at 14.7%.
Fresh details of operation conducted by IAF, Army have come out in gazette notification giving citations of those who were awarded Vir Chakra for their bravery.
On 21 Oct, a buzz went up that the govt had released full list of gallantry award recipients along with Op Sindoor citations. I put an AI caddy on the job. It took me into a never-ending rabbit hole.
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