Curfew imposed in Sri Lanka following presidential polls

COLOMBO: A curfew was imposed in sri Lanka following the conclusion of polling for the presidential election, resulting in many citizens facing difficulties in returning home on Saturday.

The sudden imposition of the curfew has led to concerns among the public, as citizens face unexpected hurdles.

Read more: Sri Lanka election: What’s at stake after economic collapse?

Sri Lankan authorities stated that the polling process was conducted “peacefully”, with no major incidents reported during the voting period.

However, the curfew was then implemented as a ‘precautionary’ measure to ensure public ‘safety’ and ‘protect’ citizens during the electoral process.

The ongoing elections are critical for Sri Lanka after experiencing economic collapse following the former presidential fleeing after tanking the economy. With skyrocketing energy prices, people were unable to afford electricity or food.

Read more: For Sri Lanka’s minority Tamils, election does not offer hope

The current elections are seen as vital in getting the island’s economy off the ground again.

Unlike rest of South Asia, within Sri Lanka’s political framework, the president serves as both, the head of state and head of govemrent.

The president is elected for a five-year term and can serve a maximum of two consecutive terms only.

The election process is conducted through a secret ballot, requiring candidates to secure a majority of votes to win the presidency.

The island nation’s electoral system employs a proportional representation model. Voters select their  preferred candidate from a list, with the Election Commission of Sri Lanka overseeing the process to ensure transparency.

The country votes parliament members in separate parliamentary elections. Candidates are chosen to represent different constituencies, and mostly plays an important role in the legislative process.

The Prime Minister in Sri Lanka is chosen by the president, who leads the government.

Read more: Sri Lanka’s presidential election key to crisis rebound

Major political parties in Sri Lanka include the United National Party, Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya, among others.

Voter choice is heavily influenced by ethnic and regional dynamics.