Election Heat: Sri Lanka's Presidential Race Heats Up with 39 Candidates

Sri Lanka's upcoming presidential election sees 39 candidates, including notable figures and minority representatives, but no women. The election will be the first since the country's severe economic crisis in 2022. Incumbent President Wickremesinghe faces significant opposition, notably from Namal Rajapaksa, Sajith Premadasa, and Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

A total of 39 candidates, including three minority Tamils and two Buddhist monks, are vying for the top position in Sri Lanka's presidential election next month, according to an announcement by the election commission on Thursday.

Notably, there isn't a single female candidate among the 39 contenders for the September 21 election. The last presidential race in 2019 saw 35 candidates, while the first-ever in October 1982 had only six.

Nominations were accepted between 9 am and 11 am local time on Thursday, after the deadline for paying deposits closed on Wednesday. Despite 40 deposits being paid, one individual opted not to file a nomination. Election commission chief R M A L Rathnayake mentioned that three objections were raised against three candidates, but they were dismissed by the commission. The election will be decided by over 17 million eligible voters across 22 electoral districts.

(With inputs from agencies.)