Sri Lankans headed to the polls in their first election since the country's severe economic collapse, which led to mass protests and the ousting of former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Polling stations opened at 7 a.m. on Saturday, marking a crucial vote widely seen as a referendum on current President Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Wickremesinghe, who assumed leadership after Rajapaksa fled the country, has worked to restore some stability through strict austerity measures backed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). However, these policies, including tax increases, have left millions of citizens struggling financially, leading to widespread dissatisfaction among voters.

Addressing his supporters during the final rally in Colombo, Wickremesinghe, 75, defended his reforms, saying, "We must continue with reforms to end bankruptcy. Decide if you want to go back to the period of terror, or progress."

Despite his efforts, Wickremesinghe faces tough competition from two main rivals. Anura Kumara Dissanayake, leader of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), has gained significant support, especially among those frustrated with the nation's political establishment. Dissanayake has pledged to reform the "corrupt" political system, appealing to those eager for change.

Another prominent challenger, Sajith Premadasa, the son of a former president assassinated in 1993, is also expected to perform well. Premadasa has consistently highlighted the public's growing dissatisfaction with how the country has been governed.

According to Murtaza Jafferjee of think tank Advocata, "A significant number of voters want to send a strong message that they are disappointed with the leadership."

Approximately 17 million Sri Lankans are eligible to vote in this election, which will allow voters to rank their top three choices from a pool of 38 candidates. Thousands of police officers have been deployed across polling stations to ensure security, as Sri Lanka has a history of political violence.

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