Two years ago, tens of thousands of Sri Lankans rose up against their president and forced him to flee the country.

Sri Lanka will head to the polls to elect its next president in what is widely seen as a referendum on the government's response to the island nation’s unprecedented economic crisis. The vote comes at a time when the country is grappling with the aftermath of a severe financial collapse,

As Sri Lanka heads to its first elections since the massive protests of 2022 and the crippling economic crisis that has brought it to its knees, here is how the field is placed — and why India is watching the race closely.