Sri Lanka’s 2024 Presidential Election: Counting of second-preference votes begins
The Chairman of the Election Commission of Sri Lanka, R.M.A.L. Rathnayake, has officially announced the commencement of counting second-preference votes for the two leading candidates in Sri Lanka’s 2024 presidential election.
This decision was made due to the current status of the vote count.
Rathnayake stated that all other candidates, except for National People’s Power (NPP) candidate Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Samagi Jana Sandhanaya candidate Sajith Premadasa, have been eliminated from the race.
This announcement was made during a special media briefing held shortly before. He further explained that since no candidate secured the required percentage of votes in the initial count, the second-preference votes from the remaining ballot papers will now be counted for Dissanayake and Premadasa to determine the final outcome.
Under Sri Lanka’s electoral rules, voters can rank their second and third-choice candidates. If no candidate receives more than 50 percent of the votes, the second-preference votes are added to the totals of the two leading candidates to determine the winner.
Accordingly, for the first time in Sri Lankan history, the counting of second-preference votes in a presidential election has commenced.
Latest Headlines in Sri Lanka
- Sri Lanka President warns Middle East conflict threatens energy supply March 17, 2026
- Sri Lanka President orders ministries to implement fuel conservation plans March 17, 2026
- Sajith raises concerns Sri Lanka may face power cuts over diesel shortage March 17, 2026
- Gotabaya Rajapaksa appears before Bribery Commission March 17, 2026
- Sri Lanka cuts public transport as Wednesdays declared holidays amid fuel crisis March 17, 2026
Sri Lanka has a clear winner in the Presidential polls.
The promises, immediate and long term, made by the winning candidate could debilitate the Nation.
Citizens, tighten your belts for a rocky journey.
The $ is already climbing; remember the lines for essentials at double today’s price?
That’s where we are heading.
Thalatha Atukorale should be elevated to Deputy Leader of the UNP to rejuvenate the Party with Ruwan W for the forthcoming parliamentary elections under Prez Kumaraya.