Sri Lanka’s elections today to elect a new leader to replace former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa are scheduled to take place amid massive protests over the island nation’s unparalleled economic catastrophe. The race to become Sri Lanka’s ninth president includes Acting President Ranil Wickremesinghe, as well as MPs Dullas Alahapperuma and Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Earlier, Leader of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa withdrew his nomination.

Watch as the MPs of Sri Lanka cast their ballots to choose a new leader.

“Regardless of who becomes the President of Sri Lanka”

Sajith Premadasa, the leader of Sri Lanka’s opposition, appealed on Tuesday to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and “all political parties of India” to continue aiding the island nation in crisis “regardless of who becomes the President of Sri Lanka.

MP Samanpriya Herath arrived at Parliament directly from the hospital.

Samanpriya Herath, an SLPP Kurunegala district MP, came to Parliament from the hospital carrying a saline bottle and casting a vote to choose the President.

Three contenders are vying to succeed President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in the wake of Sri Lanka’s economic crisis.

Elections for a new President to replace the outgoing President Gotabaya Rajapaksa are set to take place in Sri Lanka today amidst the widespread protests against the island nation’s unparalleled economic catastrophe.

Yesterday, MPs Dullas Alahapperuma and Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Acting President Ranil Wickremesinghe submitted their nominations to become Sri Lanka’s ninth President. Sajith Premadasa, the leader of the opposition, had earlier withdrawn his name.

After leaving the country on July 13 due to demonstrations, Rajapaksa filed his resignation late on July 14, and Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena accepted it on July 15.

The same day, Rajapaksa’s hand-selected acting president, Ranil Wickremesinghe, assumed the presidency.

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