Years after political uprising, Sri Lankans struggle to unite behind new candidate

Two years ago, tensofthousandsofSriLankans rose up against theirpresidentandforced him to flee the country. As the country prepares for itsfirstelectionsince then,many say they're still waiting for change.

When SriLankasank into economic collapse in 2022, people from various walksoflife rallied to change a long-entrenched government they saw as responsible. The unprecedented island-wide public uprisingthey led was a momentofhope for a country fatigued by war and economic instability.

DaysaheadofSaturday'spresidentialelection, many still complainofcorrupt leaders,economic mismanagementand the entrenched powerofthe political old guard.But former protesters are having a hard time coming together behind a candidate.

They do agree on one thing:SriLanka needs anewpolitical system that can take it outofeconomic and political turbulence.

Days after Rajapaksa fled the country,SriLanka'sparliament replaced him with then-prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in a vote that many protesters saw as a victory for the status quo.

ManySriLankans say the current government is largely made upofthe same politicians who have ruled the island nation for decades, through a devastating civil war that ended in 2009 to the economic crisis that began during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Even though he was later jailed for seven days on chargesofviolence that sawSriLankan dissidents ransacking the presidential palace, physician Pathum Kerner, 42, said theprotestsachieved one goal: bringing in anewleader who could address the country's economic woes.

The worstofthe economic crisis is over, he says, but there's still a long roadahead.

"We wanted to create anewparty, anewpolitical cultureand emerging leaders, but we could not do that," said Kerner, who joined theprotestsin their first days and helped start the "Go Home, Gota" slogan that became a rallying cry for Rajapaksa's foes.

WATCH | Sri Lankans protest in 2022 after president replaces prime minister:

Unrest in Sri Lanka continues after prime minister named interim president

2 years ago

Duration 2:03

Protests continue in Sri Lanka after the country's parliament replaced its unpopular president with its unpopular prime minister.

Wickremesinghe has made progress steadyingSriLanka'seconomy, but discontent remains strong as he's introduced economic policies that have raised the costofliving, like tax cuts and adebt restructuring program.

Desire to curtail presidential powers

Meanwhile, manyofthe protest movement's political demands remain unmet, from accountability from his predecessors for the economic crisisto the curtailmentofpresident's powers and a democratic replacement.

Ajantha Perera, an academic and scientist who was partoftheprotests, said she hoped at first that Wickremesinghe would work with the protesters to find solutions to the crisis.

Instead, she said, thenewpresidentwent after civil society leaders who were instrumental in the citizens' movement, delayed local elections citing lackoffundsand protected thepowerful Rajapaksa clan, whichhad ruledSriLanka for more than 12 years.

"Allofa sudden he turned into something totally different. He was trying to please the Rajapaksas, who left," Perera said.

Like many former protesters, she wantsSriLanka to strip its presidencyofmostofits powers, moving them to a more powerful parliament and prime minister.

"Executive presidency is a white elephant forSriLanka," she said, saying that anynewpresidentcould use it to tighten their grip over the country. "We can't afford it. We don't need it."

Tension a sign of better democracy, expert says

The former protesters are findingthey don't always agree on the course their country should take, spurring divisions between one-time allies.

Wickremesignhe's main challengers opposition leaderSajith Premadasaand parliamentarianAnura Dissanayake, a surprise top contender who heads anewleftist coalition have promised major political changes, including renegotiating a deal with the International Monetary Fund to win more favourable terms.

Dissanayake has even promised to nationalize the country's resources to spur growth.

Those promises worry Kerner, who says he's eager to hold the government to its promises, but doesn't trust leftists with the economy.

"Bringing in a leftist to this crisis," Kerner said, "is like leaving laxatives to a patient who's dying from dehydration."

Human rights lawyer Swasthika Arulingam saysthe emerging political splits among former protesters are a signofhealthier democracy.

Arulingam, who offered legal aid to protesters during the uprising, saysSriLankans have become "politically conscious" after decadesofvoting on ethnic lines.

"This was the moment when the political status quo broke and people came out to the streets and demanded systemic change. So definitely there's a shift in politics in termsofthe younger generation," Arulingam said. "Political parties and candidates can no longer come and say whatever they want. People are asking questions now."

The 37-year-old, a memberofthe minority Tamil community, whichbore thebruntofthe civil war, is helping run a campaign for a candidate from the newly minted People's Struggle Alliance. It's another leftist political movement that is vying for a place inSriLanka'spolitical landscape.

Arulingam admits her party won't win thiselection, but says it won't hesitate to hit the streets again if the country's politicians don't meet demands for change.

"We are gearing up for a political fight, and we are preparing the ground."