Elections are likely to be held in Sri Lanka well before the 2024 deadline, the British weekly newspaper, The Economist has predicted.
According to the prediction, Sri Lanka’s economy will contract, but by less than in 2022.
The prediction has been made in The Economist’s new publication, “The World Ahead 2023”.
“President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who assumed the presidency in July 2022, will struggle to confront the public discontent that forced the resignation of his predecessor Gotabaya Rajapaksa,” the report said.
The report also points out that protesters see Ranil Wickremesinghe as a stooge for the Rajapaksa clan, particularly since he chose Dinesh Gunawardena as the Prime Minister, an ally of the Rajapaksa family.
“Protests and strikes will weigh on the government and elections are likely well before the 2024 deadline” it added.
The Economist’s other predictions include:
GDP growth : – 0.2%
GDP per head : US$ 4,230
Inflation : 66.4%
Budget Balance (%GDP) : – 4.2
Population : 21.7m
Source: Newswire