evidence: The top three contenders among the 38 candidates are current President and United National Party (UNP) leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) president Anura Kumara Dissanayake representing the National People’s Power (NPP) alliance, and Leader of the Opposition Sajid Premadasa, head of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB). [...] The three leading candidates will be evaluated by voters on their approach and stances towards the country’s painful economic recovery and the IMF-imposed austerity measures. The bailout from the IMF has led to reduced subsidies, decrease in public sector spendings, tax hikes, struggling small businesses and more. As Himal reported last year, Sri Lanka also witnessed a drastic reduction in national private investments and speculative capital. [...] The other two candidates, Premadasa and Dissanayake, have denounced the government’s current measures to bring the country out of its economic slump, and have branded it corrupt.