Wickremensignhe’s main challengers — opposition leader Sajith Premadasa and parliamentarian Anura Dissanayake, a surprise top contender who heads a new leftist coalition — have promised major political changes, including renegotiating a deal with the International Monetary Fund to win more favorable terms.

Voting ends in Sri Lanka's presidential election as it seeks to recover from economic crisis and political upheaval

Millions of Sri Lankans cast their votes on Saturday to select a new president who will face the task of cementing the South Asian country's fragile economic recovery following its worst financial crisis in decades.