Editor's Pick | With an eye towards economic recovery, Sri Lanka to get its new President on Sunday

After the conduct of a peaceful Presidential election on Saturday, Sri Lanka awaits the outcome slated to be announced on Saturday. The island nation continues to navigate a challenging phase of economic recovery, following a crisis two years ago. Furthermore, the election assumes significance because it would be for the first time that Sri Lankans exercised their mandate after the 2022 uprising that forced former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to flee the country and quit office – at the height of the economic breakdown. The uprising in Sri Lanka happened in April 2022 after it announced having defaulted on its foreign loans as “last resort”. The imports-reliant country ran out of dollars with essential supplies severely hit. People were forced to contend with long queues for fuel and gas, shortage of food and medicines and prolonged power cuts. The contemplated IMF assistance was finalised only in March 2023 by then President Rajapaksa’s successor Ranil Wickremesinghe – consisting of a $3 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF). Instead of the historical two-cornered contest, Sri Lanka this time around has three candidates in fray for the country’s top administrative job. These include: the incumbent President Wickremesinghe who proposes to continue his project of reviving the country’s battered economy, and leaders of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa and Anura Kumara Dissanayake – both proposing “change” - offering relief from the burden of the government’s ongoing IMF-led reform programme. As per the Sri Lankan electoral system, a candidate would be required to secure 50% of the votes plus one vote to be declared winner. Should a clear winner not emerge – more likely in a three-cornered race – a second round of voting would be conducted to determine the preferential votes secured by the top two candidates. This would be then added to their tally. The Hindu’s Profiles Atishi Marlena: From the backroom to the top Jill Stein: Three’s not a crowd The Hindu’s Daily Quiz At present, what is the procurement of milk led by dairy cooperatives in India? 660 lakh litres per day 66 lakh litres per day 660 crore litres per day 66,000 litres per day To know the answer and to play the full quiz, click here. [logo] Editor's Pick 22 September 2024 [The Hindu logo] [EP Logo] Editor's Pick 22 September 2024 In the Editor's Pick newsletter, The Hindu explains why a story was important enough to be carried on the front page of today's edition of our newspaper. [View in browser]( [More newsletters]( With an eye towards economic recovery, Sri Lanka to get its new President on Sunday After the conduct of a [peaceful Presidential election]( on Saturday, Sri Lanka awaits the outcome slated to be announced on Saturday. The island nation continues to navigate a challenging phase of economic recovery, following a crisis two years ago. Furthermore, the election assumes significance because it would be for the first time that Sri Lankans exercised their mandate after the 2022 uprising that forced former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to flee the country and quit office – at the height of the economic breakdown. The uprising in Sri Lanka happened in April 2022 after it announced having defaulted on its foreign loans as “last resort”. The imports-reliant country ran out of dollars with essential supplies severely hit. People were forced to contend with long queues for fuel and gas, shortage of food and medicines and prolonged power cuts. The contemplated IMF assistance was finalised only in March 2023 by then President Rajapaksa’s successor Ranil Wickremesinghe – consisting of a $3 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF).  Instead of the historical two-cornered contest, Sri Lanka this time around has three candidates in fray for the country’s top administrative job. These include: the incumbent President Wickremesinghe who proposes to continue his project of reviving the country’s battered economy, and leaders of the Opposition Sajith Premadasa and Anura Kumara Dissanayake – both proposing “change” - offering relief from the burden of the government’s ongoing IMF-led reform programme. As per the Sri Lankan electoral system, a candidate would be required to secure 50% of the votes plus one vote to be declared winner. Should a clear winner not emerge – more likely in a three-cornered race – a second round of voting would be conducted to determine the preferential votes secured by the top two candidates. This would be then added to their tally.  The Hindu’s Profiles [Arrow][Atishi Marlena: From the backroom to the topÂ]( [Arrow][Jill Stein: Three’s not a crowdÂ]( The Hindu’s Daily Quiz At present, what is the procurement of milk led by dairy cooperatives in India? - 660 lakh litres per day - 66 lakh litres per day - 660 crore litres per day - 66,000 litres per day To know the answer and to play the full quiz, [click here.]( Today’s Best Reads [[Kerala Police probe Norway-based Wayanad native’s possible connection to Lebanon pager blasts] Kerala Police probe Norway-based Wayanad native’s possible connection to Lebanon pager blasts]( [[Atishi becomes 17th woman Chief Minister in India’s history; here’s the full list] Atishi becomes 17th woman Chief Minister in India’s history; here’s the full list]( [[TH21 BINDU Drug resistant urinary tract, and blood stream infections, typhoid, and pneumonia show resistance to commonly used antibiotics: ICMR report] TH21 BINDU Drug resistant urinary tract, and blood stream infections, typhoid, and pneumonia show resistance to commonly used antibiotics: ICMR report]( [[Quad summit to announce joint coast guard exercises, other initiatives] Quad summit to announce joint coast guard exercises, other initiatives]( Copyright© 2024, THG PUBLISHING PVT LTD. 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