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Transcript/ScriptPLAYBOOK SLUG: Sri Lanka Elections Preview
HEADLINE: Amid economic distress, Sri Lanka seeks change through coming election
TEASER: Analysts say demand for change has increased support for leftist alliance led by Anura Kumara Dissanayake
PUBLISHED AT: 9/19/2024 at 8:15am
BYLINE: Anjana Pasricha
CONTRIBUTOR:
ASSIGNING EDITOR:
DATELINE: NEW DELHI
VIDEOGRAPHER: Anjana Pasricha
PRODUCER:
SCRIPT EDITORS: RH, Steve Hirsch
VIDEO SOURCE: Original, AFP, Reuters, AP
PLATFORMS:
TRT:
VID APPROVED BY:
TYPE: TVR
EDITOR NOTES: ))
[[INTRO]] ((Sri Lanka will hold elections for a new president Saturday in the first polls since massive popular protests ousted former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the height of a crushing economic downturn. It is a pivotal vote for the South Asian country where the new leader will have to steer the island nation toward economic revival and ensure political stability. Anjana Pasricha has this report.))
((NARRATOR))
As he prepares to vote for a new president, ice cream parlor owner Tariq Nasim, in Sri Lanka’s capital, Colombo, echoes the rallying cry at massive protests two years ago when an economic collapse led to the ouster of former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
((Tariq Nassim, Ice Cream Parlor Owner Parlor, Male in English, via Reuters))
"My expectation is we need a system change. Full system change.”
((NARRATOR))
The country’s 17 million voters will choose between three main contenders as discontent festers in the country. President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who was elected by Parliament, is running as an independent candidate. His main challengers are opposition leader Sajith Premadasa and Anura Dissanayake, head of a Marxist-led coalition.
((For Radio: Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu, is Executive Director at the Center for Policy Alternatives in Colombo.))
((Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu, Center for Policy Alternatives, Colombo (Male in English)) ((via Zoom))
“Major issue in this election is corruption and they want a change of the system, which is what the Aragalaya [protest movement] called for. A change of the system means that they don’t want the old ways where there was no transparency, no accountability.”
((NARRATOR))
Wickremesinghe is wooing voters with the promise of building on the fragile economic recovery he has steered. He secured an International Monetary Fund bailout, which pulled Sri Lanka back from bankruptcy, eased severe food and fuel shortages and lowered runaway inflation.
((For Radio: Saravanamuttu again))
((Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu, Center for Policy Alternatives, Colombo (Male in English)) ((via Zoom))
“There are those who believe that he has gone to the IMF, he has got a deal with them that we should continue and get out of the terrible mess that we got ourselves in and then start to rebuild again.”
((NARRATOR))
But millions want less of the hardships they are suffering. Wickremesinghe slashed subsidies and imposed higher taxes because of IMF austerity measures. Living costs have surged. A quarter of the country is reeling under poverty. Small businesses are hurting.
((For Radio: Small businesses like those of fruit seller Ranjith Dias in Colombo, are hurting.))
((Ranjith Dias, Fruit Seller (Male in Sinhala)))
"Business has fallen right to the bottom. It will be very difficult to recover. Our profits have dropped by half. People don't have money to buy these fruits."
((NARRATOR))
Wickremesinghe is also seen as part of the “old political guard,” which protesters sought to overthrow. The anger with traditional parties has led to growing support for Dissanayake’s alliance, called the National People’s Power. His rallies have attracted huge crowds.
((For Radio: Alan Keenan is Senior Consultant, Sri Lanka, at the International Crisis Group.))
((Alan Keenan, International Crisis Group – Sri Lanka (Male in English) (via Zoom))
“Very popular with a lot of Sri Lankans. They have never really been in power themselves, so they are presenting themselves as the party that can come in and sweep out the old guys and particularly end corruption, which is a big problem in Sri Lanka and which many Sri Lankans blame for the economic crisis.”
((NARRATOR))
Opposition leader Premadasa, who is also promising economic relief, is steering a middle path between the status quo that Wickremesinghe represents and the radical change promised by Dissanayake
A significant number of uncommitted voters is making it hard to forecast the outcome of a crucial election, which will shape how Sri Lanka copes with the challenge of ensuring political and economic stability.
((Anjana Pasricha, VOA News, New Delhi.))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
Subtitles / Dubbing AvailableNo
NetworkVOA
Embargo DateSeptember 19, 2024 08:12 EDT
BylineAnjana Pasricha
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
