Colombo: Sri Lanka is expected to witness a triangular contest in the presidential election, with lawmakers today proposing the names of three, including acting President Ranil Wickremesinghe, as candidates.
In Sri Lanka, elections to appoint the successor of former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa today.
The new president will remain in office for the rest of former President Rajapaksa’s term till November 2024.
In the elections, Wickremesinghe will take on Dullahs Alhapperuma (63) and Anura Kumar Disnayake (53).
Alhapperuma is a member of the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) while Dissanayake is the main leader of the leftist Janata Vimukthi Peramuna (JVV). S Premadasa, leader of the main opposition party in Sri Lanka, Samagi Jan Balvegaya, said he was pulling out of the presidential race to support Alhapaperuma.
Meanwhile, security has been beefed up in and around the Sri Lankan Parliament complex today following a complaint by Sri Lankan Parliament Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abhayavardane to the IG.
He had said in his complaint that he had demanded a detailed probe against inflammatory messages threatening MPs on social media.