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The Sri Lankan presidential election has entered a second preference count after no candidate secured over 50 percent of the votes in the first round. Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the candidate of the National People’s Power (NPP), emerged as the frontrunner, garnering 5,634,915 votes (42.31 percent) according to the Election Commission Chairman RLAM Ratnayake. This outcome necessitates a second preference count, as stipulated by the Presidential Elections Act of 1981.
The second preference count will involve the elimination of the candidate with the lowest number of votes. The second preference votes of those who supported the eliminated candidate will then be distributed among the remaining candidates, potentially shifting the balance of power. This system ensures that the elected president receives a majority of the votes, even if no candidate achieves a majority in the initial count.
The election has been a tight race between Dissanayake, Sajith Premadasa of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), and Ranil Wickremesinghe of the United National Party. Dissanayake has emerged as a popular choice, especially in districts like Polonnaruwa, Anuradhapura, Hambantota, Ratnapura, Galle, and Colombo. Premadasa, however, has secured a lead in districts like Jaffna, Vanni, Trincomalee, and Digamadulla. This highlights the diverse political landscape of Sri Lanka and the significant role that regional preferences play in the outcome of elections.
Source: Sri Lanka polls: Anura Kumara Dissanayake leads in first round of counting with 42.31 pc votes