1999 Sri Lankan presidential election

Background

Chandrika Kumaratunga assumed office on 12 November 1994, after winning that year's presidential election. Under the provisions of the Constitution, the president was elected to a six-year term and could call an early presidential election after completing four years of the first term. President Kumaratunga decided to call an early election, as she was constitutionally eligible, since four years of her first term were completed on 12 November 1998. She announced the Proclamation through Gazette Extraordinary No. 1102/22 on 20 October 1999.

Nominations

Nominations were accepted from 9:00 am to 11:00 am IST on 16 November 1999. The election date, 21 December 1999, was announced via Gazette Extraordinary No. 531/12 on the same day.

President Kumaratunga declared her intention to run for a second term, campaigning to continue her actions against the LTTE.

The United National Party nominated Ranil Wickremesinghe as its candidate, who called for direct negotiations with the Tigers.

Debate

During the campaign, the UNP proposed a live presidential debate between Ranil Wickremesinghe and President Kumaratunga to discuss major national issues, particularly the conflict with the LTTE, economic policies, and governance. Kumaratunga declined to participate, and as a result, the debate never took place.

Assassination attempt

On 18 December 1999, three days before the election, Kumaratunga was seriously wounded in a suicide-bomb attack at her final election rally in Colombo. The attack was carried out by a female LTTE suicide bomber. The blast killed dozens, including members of her security detail, senior police officers, journalists, and bystanders, and injured over 100. Kumaratunga lost vision in her right eye and sustained facial injuries. Despite her injuries, she was sworn in for a second term on 22 December 1999 while still bandaged, vowing to fight terrorism and restore peace.

Results

The results were officially declared on 22 December 1999, with Chandrika Kumaratunga winning a second term. She was sworn in later that same day at the Temple Trees, only hours after the announcement of the final results.

Electoral Results

Map

References

References

1. "Will Ranil Wickremesinghe survive the September 21 Presidential elections?".
2. "The Sunday Times - From the Blue Corner".
3. "The Ranil-Chandrika Debate of 1999 that never occurred - Opinion".
4. Burke, Jason. (1999-12-19). "Suicide bomber blasts Sri Lanka's woman leader". [[The Guardian]].
5. "Victory and war in Sri Lanka". The Economist.
6. "UPI Focus;NEWLN:Injured Sri Lankan president sworn in - UPI Archives".
7. admin-lithic. (1999-12-22). "“Our vow and our destiny are that peace must reign” – President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga".