evidence: Mr. Wickremesinghe, whose United National Party has been weakened by a split, is running as an independent candidate. Even though Mr. Wickremesinghe remains unpopular for carrying out austerity measures – including sharp tax hikes – in exchange for an International Monetary Fund bailout, he is hoping to gain votes from his success in largely abating the shortage of essentials such as fuel, cooking gas, medicines, and food. [...] Mr. Wickremesinghe’s other challenger is Sajith Premadasa, the incumbent president’s former deputy and leader of his breakaway party, United People’s Power. Mr. Premadasa promises to continue with the IMF program but with changes to lessen the burden on poor people. [...] While Mr. Wickremesinghe says that the IMF agreement can’t be significantly changed, his rivals say they will try to renegotiate it to ease the burden on the public.