COLOMBO, Sept 21, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - Polls closed in Sri Lanka's presidential 
election on Saturday, AFP journalists saw, ending the island nation's first 
vote since an unprecedented economic crisis two years ago.

Voting booths closed at 4:00 pm (1030 GMT), with President Ranil 
Wickremesinghe facing an uphill battle to retain office after implementing 
unpopular austerity measures.