At stake in this election:

• The office of President of Sri Lanka

Description of government structure:

• Chief of State: President Chandrika Bandaranaike KUMARATUNGA
• Head of Government: President Chandrika Bandaranaike KUMARATUNGA
• Assembly: Sri Lanka has a unicameral Parliament with 225 seats.

Description of electoral system:

• The President is elected by popular vote to serve a 6-year term.
• In the Parliament 225 members are elected by popular vote via proportional representation to serve 6-year terms.

Main Candidates in the Presidential race:

• Mahinda RAJAPAKSHA
  • Party: United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA)
• Ranil WICKRAMASINGHE
  • Party: United National Party (UNP)
• Siritunga JAYASURIYA
  • Party: United Socialist Party (USP)
• Achala Ashoka SURAWEERA
  • Party: Jathika Sangwardhena Peramuna (JSP)
• Victor HETTIGODA
  • Party: Eksath Lanka Podujana Pakshaya (ELPP)
• Chamil JAYANETHTHI
  • Party: New Left Front (NLF)
• Aruna DE ZOYSA
  • Party: Ruhunu Janatha Party (RJP)
• Wimal GEEGANAGE
  • Party: Sri Lanka Nantional Front (SLNF)
• Anura DE SILVA
  • Party: United Lalith Front (ULF)
• Ajith Kumara Jayaweera ARACHCHIGE
  • Party: Democratic Union Alliance (DUA)
• Wije DIAS
  • Party: Socialist Equality Party (SEP)
• P. Nelson PERERA
  • Party: Sri Lanka Progressive Front (SLPF)
• Hewaheenipellage Shantha DHARMADWAJA
  • Party: United National Alternative Front (UNAF)

Last Presidential election:

• The last presidential election was held on December 21, 1999. Chandrika Bandaranaike KUMARATUNGA was reelected president with 51% of the vote against Ranil WICKREMASINGHE, who obtained 42%.

Population and number of registered voters:

• Population: 20,064,776 (July 2005)
• Registered Voters: 13,327,160 (2005)

Gender Data:

·         Female Population: 9,822,597 (2005)

·         Is Sri Lanka a signatory to CEDAW: Yes (17 July 1980)

·         Has Sri Lanka ratified CEDAW: Yes (5 October 1981)

·         Gender Quota: No

·         Female candidates in this election: No

·         Number of Female Parliamentarians: 11 (following the 2004 elections)

·         Human Development Index Position: 73 (2014)

·         Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) Categorization: Medium (2014)

Disability Data:

·         Is Sri Lanka a signatory to CRPD: Yes (30 March 2007)

·         Has Sri Lanka ratified CRPD: Yes (8 February 2016)

·         Population with a disability: 3,009 716 (est.)