evidence: The NPP has traditionally opposed IMF programs. Its recent embrace of the current program, though negotiating its terms, is a turning point. There have also been pragmatic concessions from the leadership of the NPP, as captured during the more recent visit to India, where it expressed alignment with foreign in- vestment interests despite earlier opposition. Its current platform advocates for a statedirected mixed economy, and such is reﬂected in its privatisation policy of only certain stateowned enterprises. [...] Leaving aside the parties listed above, small new parties such as the Sarvajana Balaya and People’s Struggle Alliance, though unlikely to secure any sizeable chunk of votes, nonethe- less have potential for a very strong ideological impact in the postelection scenario since they advocate alternatives to the emergent consensus among three leading contenders. The Sarvajana Balaya’s presidential candidate, Dilith Jayaweera, represents economic nationalism and opposes power sharing. The