At stake in this election:

• The office of President of Sri Lanka

Description of government structure:

• Chief of State: President Chandrika Bandaranaike KUMARATUNGA
• Head of Government: President Chandrika Bandaranaike KUMARATUNGA
• Assembly: Sri Lanka has a unicameral Parliament with 225 seats.

Description of electoral system:

• The President is elected by popular vote to serve a 6-year term.
• In the Parliament 225 members are elected by popular vote via proportional representation to serve 6-year terms.

Main Candidates in the Presidential race:

• President Chandrika Bandaranaike KUMARATUNGA
  • Party: People's Alliance (PA)
• Ranil WICKREMESINGHE
  • Party: United National Party (UNP)
• M.D. Nandana GUNATHILAKA
  • Party: People's Liberation Front (JVP)
• Other Candidates
  • Party: N/A

Last Presidential election:

• Presidential Elections were last held on November 9, 1994. President KUMARATUNGA won 62 percent of the vote, thereby defeating Srima DISSANAYANKE who receieved 37 percent.

Population and number of registered voters:

• Population: 18,532,000 (1999)
• Registered Voters: 11,779,200 (December 1999)

Gender Data:

·         Female Population: 9,272,416 (1999)

·         Is Sri Lanka a signatory to CEDAW: Yes (17 July 1980)

·         Has Sri Lanka ratified CEDAW: Yes (5 October 1981)

·         Gender Quota: No

·         Female candidates in this election: Yes

·         Number of Female Parliamentarians: 12 (following the 1994 elections)

·         Human Development Index Position: 73 (2014)

·         Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) Categorization: Medium (2014)

Disability Data:

·         Is Sri Lanka a signatory to CRPD: Yes (30 March 2007)

·         Has Sri Lanka ratified CRPD: Yes (8 February 2016)

·         Population with a disability: 2,779,800 (est.)