Amid economic distress, Sri Lankans seek change through coming election
Voice of America
Workers pull a hand cart loaded with sacks of vegetables through a wholesale market in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Sept. 13, 2024. FILE - Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe waves to supporters as he arrives to address a public election rally in Minuwangoda, Sri Lanka, Sept. 17, 2024. Leader and the presidential candidate of National People's Power Anura Kumara Dissanayake speaks to supporters during the final public rally ahead of the election in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Sept. 18, 2024. Presidential candidate and opposition leader Sajith Premadasa of the Samagi Jana Balawgaya or United People's Power party waves to supporters as he arrives for the final election rally in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Sept. 18, 2024. Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna party presidential candidate Namal Rajapaksa attends an election rally ahead of the upcoming presidential election, in Colombo on Sept. 16, 2024.
Two years after massive popular protests in Sri Lanka ousted former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the height of a crushing economic downturn, millions in the island nation will head to the polls Saturday to choose a new president.
A woman tea plantation worker plucks tea leaves at an estate in Badulla, Sri Lanka, Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024. Tea plantation worker Adaraja Ali Rani leaves her living quarters to pluck tea tips in Spring Valley estate in Badulla, Sri Lanka, Sep. 10, 2024. Muthuthewarkittan Manohari, a tea plantation worker, right, bathes her younger daughter Madubhashini, as her elder daughter Shalani, center, stands at the doorway of their small house in Spring Valley Estate in Badulla, Sri Lanka, Sept. 9, 2024.