Key contenders to be Sri Lanka's next president

Elections slated for Sept 21 brewing into a tussle between political elite and leftists

- 

Sri Lanka's presidential election in September is turning into a battleground between the political elite and a leftist outfit once notorious for armed rebellions, as candidates vie for the top job that entails overseeing an economy in need of an overhaul.

While the incumbent Ranil Wickremesinghe has made deals with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to bolster the nation's recovery after a debt default, he is not guaranteed a victory as his austerity measures have made him deeply unpopular. A challenge from political heavyweights is not his only worry.

Mr Anura Kumara Dissanayake from the leftist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), a party that led insurgencies in the 1970s and 1980s and has since re-branded itself, has managed to draw some support with an anti-corruption platform.

The Sept 21 vote will set the course for the island nation that is slowly recovering from its worst economic crisis since independence in 1948. A historic debt default and inflation that hit 70 per cent led to street protests in 2022, which culminated in strongman leader Gotabaya Rajapaksa stepping down as he fled the country.

Some opinion surveys are suggesting the possibility of the election going into a run-off, which will be a first since 1982. With nominations for the presidential race due on Aug 15, here's a look at the main contenders who have declared they will make a run for the top job:

MR RANIL WICKREMESINGHE, 75