Follow the Sri Lanka Presidential Election Updates Live here on MDWLive!. Refresh page to get latest.
515 a.m 22 nd September#BREAKING#SriLanka‘s Foreign Minster Ali Sabry congratulates Anura Kumara Dissanayake for the mandate received in the election effectively saying he has won the elections.
#SriLanka Curfew has been imposed islandwide with effect from 10.00 p.m. today (21) until 06.00 a.m. tomorrow (22).
This decision has been taken by the incumbent President Ranil Wickramasinghe in view of the releasing of the results of 2024 presidential election tonight. pic.twitter.com/Sb7S9jx1e2
1952 Voting has ended Saturday in Sri Lanka’s presidential election as the country seeks to recover from the worst economic crisis in its history and the resulting political upheaval –Full Report here
1615 The election has been hailed as largely peaceful. Foriegn minister Ali Sabry thanked everyone involved on X:
‘We just witnessed the most peaceful Presidential elections in our history. After everything we’ve been through since the 2022 economic crisis, the way Sri Lankans have come together to rebuild both our economy and our democracy is truly inspiring.
I’m so grateful to everyone who worked hard to ensure a free and fair election. The people’s voices were heard, without fear or favour!’
Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the NPP Presidential Candidate, has described the current presidential election as a significant turning point in Sri Lanka’s history.
He expressed his delight at the enthusiastic participation of the people and emphasized the importance of maintaining peace after the results are announced.
“Democracy allows individuals to support and vote for the political movement of their choice, and it is crucial that we continue to protect this right,” Dissanayake stated.
Responding to journalists’ questions about the transfer of power after the election, Dissanayake expressed confidence in a smooth transition.
“I don’t believe the current president will act undemocratically. I hope that he will step down gracefully, allowing the elected president to take office. There is a strong expectation that the transition of power will be peaceful and in accordance with the mandate given by the people through this election,” he said.
1600 Voting has closed in the island. The first result of the Presidential Election2024 expected to release by midnight today – Election Commissioner General Saman Sri Ratnayake.
1330 With just 3 hours to go until voting closes voter turnout as at 1pm remains steady.: Polonnaruwa 55%, Rathnapura 55%, Gampaha 52%, Trincomalee 51%, Colombo 50%, Kurunegala 50%, Kegalle 49%, Vanni 46.82%, Galle 45%, Puttalam 42%, Matara 40%, Kandy 40%, Badulla 40%, Jaffna 35%
Election Commission says it has received 85 complaints of election violations related to the 2024 Sri Lankan Presidential Election.
1315 “At 4 pm, we will try to start postal vote counting and 6 pm we would like to start normal counting. All the election management system are okay.
There are no incidents in Colombo district. 27 per cent voters have cast their vote. Within two or three hours (after counting of votes starts), we can display the results,” says Colombo City Deputy Election Commissioner MKSKK Bandaramapa.
1215 Anura Kumara Dissanayake may lack the political lineage of some of his rivals, but his leftist policies to help the poor and stirring speeches have made him a leading candidate in Sri Lanka’s presidential election on Saturday.
Although Dissanayake’s Janatha Vimukthi Peremuna (JVP) party has just three seats in parliament, the 55-year-old candidate has been boosted by his promises of tough anti-corruption measures and bigger welfare schemes.
11.45 SLPP’s Namal Rajapaksa casts his vote alongside wife Limini, sharing, ‘Every vote matters for the future of Sri Lanka!’ on X.
11.30 Sri Lanka President Ranil Wickramasinghe posts a picture of himself and his wife after casting his vote.
11.15 ‘Remain calm and collected, promote and champion democracy‘ says Sajith Premadasa after casting his vote a short while ago.
Sajith Premadasa, the leader of Sri Lanka’s main opposition party, is a frontrunner in Saturday’s presidential election and a win will hand him the top job more than 30 years after his father was assassinated while holding the same post.
Premadasa, 57, studied at the London School of Economics and entered politics after his father, Ranasinghe Premadasa, was killed in a suicide bombing during a May Day rally in 1993.
10:45 Polls close at 4 p.m. (1030 GMT), with counting scheduled to start shortly afterward. The Election Commission is expected to announce the winner on Sunday.
10.30 Presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa is seen casting his vote alongside wife Jalani.
10.00 All eyes on voter turnout. As of 10am it’s a steady flow in most areas.
0900 Exclusive- “I have already delivered. I have taken the country out of bankruptcy”- SriLanka’s President Ranil Wickremesinghe says as he comes to cast his vote at University of Colombo this morning.
EXCLUSIVE- “I have already delivered. I have taken the country out of bankruptcy”- #SriLanka's President Ranil Wickremesinghe says as he comes to cast his vote at University of Colombo this morning. pic.twitter.com/BwDgZaeqVU
0700: Good Morning. We are covering the Sri Lanka Presidential Election here on MDWLive!, as millions of Sri Lankans are casting their votes today to select a president who will face the task of bolstering the country’s fragile economic recovery following its worst financial crisis in decades.
More than 17 million of Sri Lanka’s 22 million people are eligible to vote in an election that has shaped up to be a close contest between President Ranil Wickremesinghe, main opposition leader Sajith Premadasa and Marxist-leaning challenger Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who led in one recent opinion poll.
MDW Live! News Network 
Follow the Sri Lanka Presidential Election Updates Live here on MDWLive!. Refresh page to get latest.
515 a.m 22 nd September #BREAKING #SriLanka‘s Foreign Minster Ali Sabry congratulates Anura Kumara Dissanayake for the mandate received in the election effectively saying he has won the elections.
514 a.m 22 nd September Cumulative totals of leading candidates after more postal votes and some district votes from certain districts were released
218 a.m 22 nd September Cumulative totals of leading candidates after some postal votes from certain districts were released
1216 22 nd Sep First Election Results Released
2115
1952 Voting has ended Saturday in Sri Lanka’s presidential election as the country seeks to recover from the worst economic crisis in its history and the resulting political upheaval –Full Report here
1950
1615 The election has been hailed as largely peaceful. Foriegn minister Ali Sabry thanked everyone involved on X:
‘We just witnessed the most peaceful Presidential elections in our history. After everything we’ve been through since the 2022 economic crisis, the way Sri Lankans have come together to rebuild both our economy and our democracy is truly inspiring.
I’m so grateful to everyone who worked hard to ensure a free and fair election. The people’s voices were heard, without fear or favour!’
Read our report here.
1630
Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the NPP Presidential Candidate, has described the current presidential election as a significant turning point in Sri Lanka’s history.
He expressed his delight at the enthusiastic participation of the people and emphasized the importance of maintaining peace after the results are announced.
“Democracy allows individuals to support and vote for the political movement of their choice, and it is crucial that we continue to protect this right,” Dissanayake stated.
Responding to journalists’ questions about the transfer of power after the election, Dissanayake expressed confidence in a smooth transition.
“I don’t believe the current president will act undemocratically. I hope that he will step down gracefully, allowing the elected president to take office. There is a strong expectation that the transition of power will be peaceful and in accordance with the mandate given by the people through this election,” he said.
1600 Voting has closed in the island. The first result of the Presidential Election2024 expected to release by midnight today – Election Commissioner General Saman Sri Ratnayake.
1330 With just 3 hours to go until voting closes voter turnout as at 1pm remains steady.:
Polonnaruwa 55%, Rathnapura 55%, Gampaha 52%, Trincomalee 51%, Colombo 50%, Kurunegala 50%, Kegalle 49%, Vanni 46.82%, Galle 45%, Puttalam 42%, Matara 40%, Kandy 40%, Badulla 40%, Jaffna 35%
Election Commission says it has received 85 complaints of election violations related to the 2024 Sri Lankan Presidential Election.
1315 “At 4 pm, we will try to start postal vote counting and 6 pm we would like to start normal counting. All the election management system are okay.
There are no incidents in Colombo district. 27 per cent voters have cast their vote. Within two or three hours (after counting of votes starts), we can display the results,” says Colombo City Deputy Election Commissioner MKSKK Bandaramapa.
1300 Voter turnout as at 12 noon:
Nuwara-Eliya – 45%,
Galle – 42%,
Matara – 35%,
Kurunegala – 50%,
Puttalam – 42%,
Anuradhapura – 50%,
Polonnaruwa – 44%,
Moneragala – 32%
1215 Anura Kumara Dissanayake may lack the political lineage of some of his rivals, but his leftist policies to help the poor and stirring speeches have made him a leading candidate in Sri Lanka’s presidential election on Saturday.
Although Dissanayake’s Janatha Vimukthi Peremuna (JVP) party has just three seats in parliament, the 55-year-old candidate has been boosted by his promises of tough anti-corruption measures and bigger welfare schemes.
Mr Dissanayake is seen arriving to cast his vote.
11.45 SLPP’s Namal Rajapaksa casts his vote alongside wife Limini, sharing, ‘Every vote matters for the future of Sri Lanka!’ on X.
11.30 Sri Lanka President Ranil Wickramasinghe posts a picture of himself and his wife after casting his vote.
11.15 ‘Remain calm and collected, promote and champion democracy‘ says Sajith Premadasa after casting his vote a short while ago.
Sajith Premadasa, the leader of Sri Lanka’s main opposition party, is a frontrunner in Saturday’s presidential election and a win will hand him the top job more than 30 years after his father was assassinated while holding the same post.
Premadasa, 57, studied at the London School of Economics and entered politics after his father, Ranasinghe Premadasa, was killed in a suicide bombing during a May Day rally in 1993.
10:45 Polls close at 4 p.m. (1030 GMT), with counting scheduled to start shortly afterward. The Election Commission is expected to announce the winner on Sunday.
10.30 Presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa is seen casting his vote alongside wife Jalani.
10.00 All eyes on voter turnout. As of 10am it’s a steady flow in most areas.
0900 Exclusive- “I have already delivered. I have taken the country out of bankruptcy”- SriLanka’s President Ranil Wickremesinghe says as he comes to cast his vote at University of Colombo this morning.
0700: Good Morning. We are covering the Sri Lanka Presidential Election here on MDWLive!, as millions of Sri Lankans are casting their votes today to select a president who will face the task of bolstering the country’s fragile economic recovery following its worst financial crisis in decades.
More than 17 million of Sri Lanka’s 22 million people are eligible to vote in an election that has shaped up to be a close contest between President Ranil Wickremesinghe, main opposition leader Sajith Premadasa and Marxist-leaning challenger Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who led in one recent opinion poll.
Share this: