02:59Heightened security measures were in place across Colombo on Sunday as Sri Lanka's presidential election moved to a historic second count. This unprecedented situation arose after no candidate secured the required 50 per cent of votes in the initial round, prompting the need for a second tally.
Footage showed police and military personnel guarding the results centre and inspecting ballot boxes, with a live feed displaying real-time vote counts. Leading the race was National People's Power (NPP) candidate Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who received 42.3 per cent of the votes, followed by opposition leader Sajith Premadasa with 32.76 per cent. Incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe lagged in third place with 17 per cent, eliminating him from the second round.
This election, the first since the resignation of former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in 2022 amidst protests and an economic crisis, drew a large turnout, with 75 per cent of Sri Lanka’s 17 million eligible voters participating. The country's election laws, under the Presidential Elections Act of 1981, require a candidate to win more than half the votes to be elected.
Anura Kumara Dissanayake ultimately emerged victorious after the second round of counting, where voters' second and third preferences were factored in. His victory marks a historic moment, as previous Sri Lankan presidential elections were decided in the first round. Dissanayake secured 5,740,179 votes, compared to Premadasa’s 4,530,902.
Dissanayake’s campaign focused on promises of good governance, anti-corruption measures, and reviving the economy. He has pledged to boost the manufacturing, agriculture, and IT sectors, and continue Sri Lanka's deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) while mitigating the impact of austerity on the country's poor. His alliance, the National People's Party, gained prominence during the 2022 protests, which called for systemic change.
While the election was noted for being one of the closest and most peaceful in the nation's history, a curfew was briefly imposed by police on Saturday night for public safety. Despite this, Dissanayake's victory was seen as a reflection of the public's desire for change and accountability, especially after years of economic and political instability.
Sri Lanka presidential election moves to historic second count as Anura Kumara Dissanayake declared winner
Heightened security measures were in place across Colombo on Sunday as Sri Lanka's presidential election moved to a historic second count. This unprecedented situation arose after no candidate secured the required 50 per cent of votes in the initial round, prompting the need for a second tally.
Footage showed police and military personnel guarding the results centre and inspecting ballot boxes, with a live feed displaying real-time vote counts. Leading the race was National People's Power (NPP) candidate Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who received 42.3 per cent of the votes, followed by opposition leader Sajith Premadasa with 32.76 per cent. Incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe lagged in third place with 17 per cent, eliminating him from the second round.
This election, the first since the resignation of former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in 2022 amidst protests and an economic crisis, drew a large turnout, with 75 per cent of Sri Lanka’s 17 million eligible voters participating. The country's election laws, under the Presidential Elections Act of 1981, require a candidate to win more than half the votes to be elected.
Anura Kumara Dissanayake ultimately emerged victorious after the second round of counting, where voters' second and third preferences were factored in. His victory marks a historic moment, as previous Sri Lankan presidential elections were decided in the first round. Dissanayake secured 5,740,179 votes, compared to Premadasa’s 4,530,902.
Dissanayake’s campaign focused on promises of good governance, anti-corruption measures, and reviving the economy. He has pledged to boost the manufacturing, agriculture, and IT sectors, and continue Sri Lanka's deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) while mitigating the impact of austerity on the country's poor. His alliance, the National People's Party, gained prominence during the 2022 protests, which called for systemic change.
While the election was noted for being one of the closest and most peaceful in the nation's history, a curfew was briefly imposed by police on Saturday night for public safety. Despite this, Dissanayake's victory was seen as a reflection of the public's desire for change and accountability, especially after years of economic and political instability.
Heightened security measures were in place across Colombo on Sunday as Sri Lanka's presidential election moved to a historic second count. This unprecedented situation arose after no candidate secured the required 50 per cent of votes in the initial round, prompting the need for a second tally.
Footage showed police and military personnel guarding the results centre and inspecting ballot boxes, with a live feed displaying real-time vote counts. Leading the race was National People's Power (NPP) candidate Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who received 42.3 per cent of the votes, followed by opposition leader Sajith Premadasa with 32.76 per cent. Incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe lagged in third place with 17 per cent, eliminating him from the second round.
This election, the first since the resignation of former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in 2022 amidst protests and an economic crisis, drew a large turnout, with 75 per cent of Sri Lanka’s 17 million eligible voters participating. The country's election laws, under the Presidential Elections Act of 1981, require a candidate to win more than half the votes to be elected.
Anura Kumara Dissanayake ultimately emerged victorious after the second round of counting, where voters' second and third preferences were factored in. His victory marks a historic moment, as previous Sri Lankan presidential elections were decided in the first round. Dissanayake secured 5,740,179 votes, compared to Premadasa’s 4,530,902.
Dissanayake’s campaign focused on promises of good governance, anti-corruption measures, and reviving the economy. He has pledged to boost the manufacturing, agriculture, and IT sectors, and continue Sri Lanka's deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) while mitigating the impact of austerity on the country's poor. His alliance, the National People's Party, gained prominence during the 2022 protests, which called for systemic change.
While the election was noted for being one of the closest and most peaceful in the nation's history, a curfew was briefly imposed by police on Saturday night for public safety. Despite this, Dissanayake's victory was seen as a reflection of the public's desire for change and accountability, especially after years of economic and political instability.