COLOMBO: Sri Lankan authorities ringed parliament with heavy security on Wednesday as lawmakers prepared to choose between three candidates for president, hoping the new leader could pull the island out of a crippling economic and political crisis.
A win for acting President Ranil Wickremesinghe, one of the main two contenders but opposed by many ordinary Sri Lankans, could lead to more demonstrations by people furious with the ruling elite after months of crippling shortages of fuel, food and medicines, several protesters have said.
"If Ranil comes (into power), we cannot have stability," said Duminda Nagamuwa, who organised protests in Colombo after the nominations were finalised. Other protesters have said the acting president is an ally of the powerful Rajapaksa family, who they blame for the economic crisis.
The other main candidate, ruling party lawmaker Dullas Alahapperuma, is more acceptable to the protesters and the opposition but does not have any top-level governance experience in a country with barely any dollars for imports and desperately in need of an IMF bailout.
The third candidate, Anura Kumara Dissanayaka, the leader of the leftist Janatha Vimukti Peramuna party, commands only three seats in the 225-member parliament and has no realistic chance of winning.
Hundreds of police, paramilitary and military troops were deployed around the parliament building and an approach road had at least three barricades. Security personnel in speed boats patrolled a lake around the building, and military jeeps and armoured vehicles stood parked within the perimeter.
Wickremesinghe, a six-time prime minister, became acting president last week after then president Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled to Singapore when hundreds of thousands of people came out on the streets against his administration and occupied his official residence and office.
Protesters also burned down Wickremesinghe's private home and stormed his office.
It was not immediately clear how much support 73-year-old Wickremesinghe and 63-year-old Alahapperuma have in parliament.
Wickremesinghe is backed by a section of the ruling party that had a total of 145 seats as of the last parliamentary election in 2020. Alahapperuma has the support of the other section as well as the main opposition party that won 54 seats last time round. Several small parties have promised to support him as well.
Latest numbers are not clear because some lawmakers have become independents.
"Earlier Ranil Wickremesinghe was the front-runner but now the outcome is much more uncertain," said political scientist Jayadeva Uyangoda.
"The balance of parliament power has shifted away from him. The outcome is dependent on how much control the Rajapaksas have ... over their party members."
Sri Lanka's parliament in 1993 unanimously chose D.B. Wijetunga to finish the tenure of assassinated President Ranasinghe Premadasa. This time three candidates are in the fray to complete Rajapaksa's term, scheduled to end in 2024.
"It will be marked as a new experience in the parliamentary history of this country," a statement from the communication chief of parliament said, laying out the procedure.
A candidate receiving more than one-third of the valid votes cast will be declared elected. If no candidate reaches the mark, the one with the lowest number of votes will be eliminated from the competition and preferences of lawmakers taken into account to eventually arrive at a winner.
Reuters
Wed Jul 20 2022
![Sri Lanka's parliament votes for a new president as protesters wait Sri Lanka's parliament votes for a new president as protesters wait](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-07/81658297859_COLOMBO.jpg)
Policemen stand guard at a barricade outside the Parliament building, as voting begins to elect the new President, amid the country's economic crisis, in Colombo, Sri Lanka July 20, 2022. - REUTERS
![PPZ-MAIWP catat RM511 juta kutipan zakat tahun ini, naik 10 peratus PPZ-MAIWP catat RM511 juta kutipan zakat tahun ini, naik 10 peratus](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-04/61714481430_TBNAIM.jpg)
PPZ-MAIWP catat RM511 juta kutipan zakat tahun ini, naik 10 peratus
PPZ-MAIWP mencatat kutipan zakat sebanyak RM511 juta dari Januari hingga Jun tahun ini dengan peningkatan sebanyak 10 peratus berbanding tempoh sama pada 2023.
![Misi ekonomi produk agrikomoditi ke India perkukuh hubungan dua hala Misi ekonomi produk agrikomoditi ke India perkukuh hubungan dua hala](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/61721130378_JohariAbdulGhani.jpg)
Misi ekonomi produk agrikomoditi ke India perkukuh hubungan dua hala
KPK akan mengadakan Misi Ekonomi Produk Agrikomoditi Malaysia ke India pada 17-18 Julai ini.
![Golongan belia pemacu penting bentuk masa depan industri pembuatan Malaysia - FMM Golongan belia pemacu penting bentuk masa depan industri pembuatan Malaysia - FMM](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-05/41715247870_SohThianLaijpg.jpg)
Golongan belia pemacu penting bentuk masa depan industri pembuatan Malaysia - FMM
Pemimpin perniagaan dan usahawan daripada golongan belia merupakan pemacu penting yang akan membentuk masa depan industri pembuatan Malaysia, kata Presiden Persekutuan Pekilang-Pekilang Malaysia.
AWANI Tonight: 16 July 2024
#AWANITonight with @Hafiz_Marzukhi
1. Govt mulls amending Penal Code to deal with cyberbullying
2. England's Southgate resigns after Euro 2024 Final defeat
#AWANIEnglish #AWANINews
1. Govt mulls amending Penal Code to deal with cyberbullying
2. England's Southgate resigns after Euro 2024 Final defeat
#AWANIEnglish #AWANINews
![9,241 pelajar Palestin terbunuh dalam serangan Israel sejak 7 Oktober 9,241 pelajar Palestin terbunuh dalam serangan Israel sejak 7 Oktober](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/81718630490_Smokerises.jpg)
9,241 pelajar Palestin terbunuh dalam serangan Israel sejak 7 Oktober
9,318 pelajar terbunuh dan 14,671 lagi cedera di Semenanjung Gaza manakala di Tebing Barat, 103 pelajar terbunuh dan 505 lagi cedera.
![Penumpang Singapore Airlines meningkat hampir 14 peratus pada Jun Penumpang Singapore Airlines meningkat hampir 14 peratus pada Jun](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/61721142800_AirbusA.jpg)
Penumpang Singapore Airlines meningkat hampir 14 peratus pada Jun
Rangkaian penumpang Kumpulan SIA meliputi 125 destinasi setakat Jun dan rangkaian kargo terdiri daripada 129 destinasi.
![Empat individu termasuk pasangan pempengaruh bebas tahanan reman Empat individu termasuk pasangan pempengaruh bebas tahanan reman](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-05/41716613114_TBsprm.jpg)
Empat individu termasuk pasangan pempengaruh bebas tahanan reman
Kesemua individu juga perlu hadir ke pejabat Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM) sebulan sekali untuk melaporkan diri.
![KPT alu-alukan syor PAC guna garis panduan pelaburan universiti awam untuk anak syarikat KPT alu-alukan syor PAC guna garis panduan pelaburan universiti awam untuk anak syarikat](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/81719822088_ZambryAbdKadir.jpg)
KPT alu-alukan syor PAC guna garis panduan pelaburan universiti awam untuk anak syarikat
KPT mengalu-alukan cadangan PAC berhubung pelaksanaan dan pemakaian Garis Panduan Pelaburan dan Pembiayaan oleh Universiti Awam 2024, kepada anak-anak syarikat di bawah seliaan kementerian itu.
![SUKMA 2024: Sepak takraw wanita mungkin digugurkan SUKMA 2024: Sepak takraw wanita mungkin digugurkan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/61720679430_AbdulKarimRahman.jpg)
SUKMA 2024: Sepak takraw wanita mungkin digugurkan
Sepak takraw wanita berpasukan berkemungkinan akan digugurkan daripada senarai acara temasya Sukan Malaysia (SUKMA) 2024 berikutan jumlah penyertaan kurang daripada jumlah minimum yang ditetapkan.
10 Berita Pilihan - (16 Julai 2024)
Antara pelbagai berita dalam dan luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
![Sri Lanka akan dakwa 10 nelayan India atas kematian kelasi tentera laut Sri Lanka akan dakwa 10 nelayan India atas kematian kelasi tentera laut](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-07/61689258006_srilanka.jpg)
Sri Lanka akan dakwa 10 nelayan India atas kematian kelasi tentera laut
Tentera Laut Sri Lanka merampas sebuah bot pukat tunda di luar Kankasanthurai di Wilayah Jaffna di utara negara itu pada 25 Jun lalu.
![Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-03/71709993909_TBBERITAx.jpg)
Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Antara pelbagai berita luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
![Tujuh maut kereta lumba rempuh penonton di Sri Lanka Tujuh maut kereta lumba rempuh penonton di Sri Lanka](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-04/81713740252_tbFoxHillSupercros.jpg)
Tujuh maut kereta lumba rempuh penonton di Sri Lanka
Dalam kemalangan di Fox Hill Supercross itu, 18 penonton lain mengalami kecederaan.
![Pakistan sambut Aidilfitri hari ini, Bangladesh dan India rai Khamis Pakistan sambut Aidilfitri hari ini, Bangladesh dan India rai Khamis](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-04/71712728703_TBPAKISTAN.jpg)
Pakistan sambut Aidilfitri hari ini, Bangladesh dan India rai Khamis
Umat Islam di Pakistan dan Sri Lanka meraikan Aidilfitri pada Rabu manakala mereka yang berada di Bangladesh dan sebahagian besar India akan menyambut perayaan itu Khamis.
![Pakar WHO akan bantu tangani kusta di Sri Lanka Pakar WHO akan bantu tangani kusta di Sri Lanka](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-01/71612064180_Kusta.jpg)
Pakar WHO akan bantu tangani kusta di Sri Lanka
Daripada keseluruhan 1,550 pesakit, wilayah barat yang paling ramai penduduk di Sri Lanka, merekodkan 599 kes.
![Zambry lakukan lawatan rasmi ke Sri Lanka Zambry lakukan lawatan rasmi ke Sri Lanka](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-07/41689579540_TBZambryAbdKadir.jpg)
Zambry lakukan lawatan rasmi ke Sri Lanka
Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir akan mengadakan lawatan rasmi ke ibu negara Sri Lanka, Colombo, dari 9-12 Okt ini.
![Maldives, Sri Lanka, Pakistan sokong negara Palestin berdasarkan sempadan pra-1967 Maldives, Sri Lanka, Pakistan sokong negara Palestin berdasarkan sempadan pra-1967](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-03/71680253341_LandDay.jpg)
Maldives, Sri Lanka, Pakistan sokong negara Palestin berdasarkan sempadan pra-1967
Maldives, Sri Lanka dan Pakistan telah memperbaharui sokongan mereka terhadap penubuhan sebuah negara Palestin dalam sempadan sebelum 1967.
![Kes bunuh: Hutang dipercayai motif pembunuhan tiga warga Sri Lanka - Polis Kes bunuh: Hutang dipercayai motif pembunuhan tiga warga Sri Lanka - Polis](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-10/51696230820_AllaudeenAbdulMaji.jpg)
Kes bunuh: Hutang dipercayai motif pembunuhan tiga warga Sri Lanka - Polis
Motif pembunuhan tiga warga Sri Lanka di Jalan Perhentian Kampung Kovil hilir, Sentul pada 22 September lalu dipercayai berpunca daripada masalah wang dan hutang.
![Polis yakin suspek kes tiga mayat ditemukan bertindan masih di Malaysia Polis yakin suspek kes tiga mayat ditemukan bertindan masih di Malaysia](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-09/51695636980_TBketuapolis.jpg)
Polis yakin suspek kes tiga mayat ditemukan bertindan masih di Malaysia
Ketua Polis Kuala Lumpur, Datuk Allaudeen Abdul Majid berkata, semakan yang dilakukan polis mendapati tiada rekod kedua-dua suspek keluar dari negara.
![Lebih 50,000 keluarga terjejas akibat musim kemarau landa Sri Lanka Lebih 50,000 keluarga terjejas akibat musim kemarau landa Sri Lanka](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-08/51692286417_TBsrilanka.jpg)
Lebih 50,000 keluarga terjejas akibat musim kemarau landa Sri Lanka
Lebih 50,000 keluarga di lapan wilayah di Sri Lanka terjejas akibat musim kemarau yang melanda negara, menurut Pusat Pengurusan Bencana (DMC) menerusi laporan situasi terkini pada Khamis.