Sri Lankans are casting their votes in a pivotal presidential election, the first since the mass protests of 2022 that ousted the previous leader amid the country’s worst-ever economic crisis.

Saturday’s election is seen as a critical referendum on the sweeping economic reforms aimed at putting Sri Lanka back on the path to recovery. However, many citizens continue to struggle due to increased taxes, subsidy cuts, and reduced welfare benefits.

Economic concerns are expected to dominate the vote, with the rising cost of living, inflation, and poverty weighing heavily on voters.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who took charge after former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa was ousted, is seeking another term. Appointed by parliament after Rajapaksa fled the country, Wickremesinghe faces accusations of suppressing the protest movement and protecting the powerful Rajapaksa family from prosecution, claims he denies.

Other leading candidates include Anura Kumara Dissanayake, a leftist politician with a strong anti-corruption platform, opposition leader Sajith Premadasa, and Namal Rajapaksa, the nephew of the ousted president.

More than three dozen candidates are competing in the election, the largest number in Sri Lanka’s history. Polls close at 16:00 local time (10:30 GMT), with results expected by Sunday morning.