Sri Lanka goes to the polls as economy sees upswing

DW (English)

Sri Lanka is slowly coming out of an economic crisis, with an upcoming election set to decide where the country's economy is going. So far, however, most Sri Lankans haven't noticed any economic upswing.

Transcript

00:00The tea pickers in the Hatton Plateau are a backbone of their country's economy.

00:06They're working hard, yet they barely make a living.

00:09In the upcoming elections, they want to make their voices heard.

00:13They want to elect a leader who supports an estimated one million workers in tea farming.

00:18A leader who can improve their lives.

00:23Here in this area, there are over 100 families.

00:27And we have no help.

00:30Politicians come here promising this and that, but they are not helping us in any way.

00:37We don't have drinking water. There are no toilets.

00:42In one room, there are two or three families. We live with great difficulty.

00:50So we can't live like a slave in this country. We are not slaves.

00:54So we want equal rights, whatever the other community, but other publics are enjoying in this country.

01:00What are the facilities they are getting? We want the same facilities.

01:0530 percent of Sri Lankans are living below the poverty line.

01:09Unemployment is high. Statistics point to some economic growth for the country.

01:14However, most workers haven't felt it.

01:18Yet, after a dip in 2022, the economy is doing better.

01:23For this year, gross domestic product is expected to rise by 2.2 percent,

01:28with another uptick expected for next year.

01:33That's after Sri Lanka was hit by an economic crisis just two years ago.

01:38The country ran out of fuel, there was no heating gas, no medicine, even food was scarce.

01:46In May of 2022, the government was no longer able to service the country's debt.

01:52Following massive protests, President Rajapaksa resigned and fled the country.

02:01Before he left, he installed Ranil Vikramasinghe as interim president.

02:07But he is unpopular despite the economic situation currently improving.

02:12Many Sri Lankans are desperate for change.

02:35At least there's light at the end of the tunnel.

02:37Inflation is down, money is coming in.

02:40Not last because of Sri Lanka's growing tourism sector.

02:43After the unrest of recent years calmed down, travelers are coming back.

02:48And yet, Sri Lanka needs the support of the International Monetary Fund.

02:53Last year, the island state received three billion dollars tied to promises of reform, including ending import caps.

03:01Sri Lanka also has to cut deals with its creditors, but those negotiations will be difficult and take time.

03:10For more UN videos visit www.un.org

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