COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Sri Lanka’s elections commission on Thursday accepted applications from a record 39 candidates to run in next month’s presidential election, which will decide the course of the country's financial reforms to survive an unprecedented economic crisis.
The commission received 39 applications and all were accepted, its head, R.M.A.L. Rathnayake, announced. More than 17 million people are eligible to vote in the Sept. 21 election.
Thirty-five candidates contested the last presidential election in 2019.
The vote is seen as a referendum on difficult economic reforms initiated by current President Ranil Wickremesinghe. The reforms have improved key economic figures, but their effects have yet to reach many ordinary people.
Sri Lanka is in the middle of a critical debt restructuring and financial reform program under a bailout program by the International Monetary Fund.
Unsustainable debt, a severe balance of payments crisis, the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the government’s insistence on spending scarce foreign reserves to prop up the country's currency, the rupee, led to a severe shortage of foreign currency and essentials such as fuel, medicine, cooking gas and food in 2022.
The economic crisis and resultant shortages of essentials sparked riots, forcing then-President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to flee the country and later resign. Parliament elected Wickremesinghe as president to cover Rajapaksa’s remaining time.
Wickremesinghe is contesting the election and is seeking approval for his economic agenda, promising rapid growth with an ambitious target of making Sri Lanka a developed nation by the centenary of its independence in 2048.
Inflation has dropped to around 5% from 70% two years ago under his administration. Interest rates have also come down, the rupee has rebounded, and foreign currency reserves have increased. Creditor countries such as India, Japan and France have agreed to defer debt repayments until 2028, giving the island nation space to rebuild its economy.
The government is still negotiating with private creditors.
But professionals and businesses complain of higher taxes, and all people are affected by the high cost of living. Some critics accuse Wickremesinghe of protecting allegedly corrupt members of the previous administration in return for their support for his reforms in Parliament.
Wickremesinghe said that in the last two years, he took measures to stabilise the economy and as a result, “now there are no queues for fuel , food and medicine. People have money in their hands. But we need to move forward in further stabilising the economy. We just started the work and we can't stop. Vote for me to move forward,” he told supporters after handing over his nomination.
Wickremesinghe’s main rivals include opposition leader Sajith Premadasa and Anura Dissanayake, the leader of a leftist political party that has gained popularity among people who blame traditional parties for the economic debacle.
He unsuccessfully contested presidential elections in 1999 and 2005, while Premadasa and Dissanayake lost the 2019 presidential election.
Another prominent candidate is Namal Rajapaksa, son of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the nephew of ousted President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
His candidacy will indicate how much support the former powerful Rajapaksa dynasty retains after its fall from grace with the economic crisis.
The Rajapaksa family has been prominent in Sri Lankan politics since the country became a democracy after gaining independence from Britain in 1948. Mahinda Rajapaksa's leadership in ending a 26-year civil war during his 2005-2015 presidency took his family to the peak of its popularity.
Anura Kumara Dissanayake, leader of opposition political party National People's Power waves to media as he arrives to file nomination for the upcoming presidential election in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
Sri Lanka's opposition leader Sajith Premadasa waves to media as he arrives to file nomination for the upcoming presidential election in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
Namal Rajapaksa, son of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa waves to media as he arrives to file nomination for the upcoming presidential election in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
Sri Lanka's President Ranil Wickremesinghe waves to media as he arrives to file nomination for the upcoming presidential election in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Buffalo fans cheered so loudly in Hard Rock Stadium that Bills coach Sean McDermott was asked if it was a home game.
It wasn't. But Buffalo certainly gave fans who made the trip to South Florida plenty to celebrate Thursday night.
James Cook caught a touchdown pass and ran for two scores and the Bills routed Miami 31-10, with Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa leaving early because of a concussion.
Tagovailoa left in the third quarter after colliding with defensive back Damar Hamlin and hitting the back of his head against the turf. Tagovailoa was quickly ruled out with the concussion, casting doubt on his season after a history of dealing with head injuries.
“Very sad. It’s the worst part of the game," Bills quarterback Josh Allen said. “Nothing but love and prayers to him and his family, and hopefully everyone is sending those because he's going to need them.”
Coach Mike McDaniel did not specify if the Dolphins will place Tagovailoa on injured reserve, saying the team would evaluate him more Friday.
“I'm just worried about my teammate like the rest of the guys are,” McDaniel said. “We'll get more information tomorrow and then take it day by day from there.”
Allen, playing with a glove on his left non-throwing hand after hurting it in Buffalo's opener, completed 13 of 19 passes for 139 yards. He's 12-2 against the Dolphins, and the Bills are 14-2 against Miami since McDermott’s first year as head coach in 2017.
McDermott praised the outing from his defense, which had three turnovers and held Miami's high-flying offense to a touchdown and field goal despite missing several starters.
“Next man up. The guys did a great job,” McDermott said. “These guys work hard. Good things happen when you work hard, and sometimes the ball finds you like that.”
Cook caught a 17-yard touchdown pass from Allen and scored on runs of 1 and 49 yards in the first half, flipping into the end zone when he gave the Bills a 24-7 lead. The three first-half touchdowns tied a team record.
“As long as they trust me, I’m going to get in the end zone,” Cook said.
Allen didn't appear limited by the left hand that he hurt after hurdling safety Budda Baker in Buffalo's opener against the Cardinals. He had his hand heavily wrapped before returning to finish that game and practiced all week with a glove to protect it.
After the game and before leaving the field, Allen held up his hand and flexed it in front of fans as if to display that it's not broken.
“Feels great,” Allen said later.
Backup Mitchell Trubisky replaced Allen late in the fourth Thursday with Buffalo up by 21.
Miami’s star receiver Tyreek Hill was held to three catches for 24 yards during a week in which he dominated national headlines. Hill was pulled from his sports car by Miami-Dade County police officers, pushed face-first onto a street and handcuffed during a traffic stop outside the Dolphins’ home stadium hours before their season opener.
Officer Danny Torres was placed on administrative duty as the department’s director launched an internal affairs investigation. Hill said he wants the officer fired, but the 30-year-old also acknowledged he could have handled the interaction better in the moment.
Buffalo scored 10 points off two first-half turnovers by Tagovailoa. Ja'Marcus Ingram intercepted Tagovailoa's pass on a tipped ball intended for receiver Grant DuBose on Miami's opening drive. Then Christian Benford picked off a pass on what appeared to be miscommunication between the quarterback and receiver Robbie Chosen. Both DuBose and Chosen arrived to the team after the preseason.
Tagovailoa thew another interception to Ingram trying to toss the ball out of bounds on Miami's opening drive of the third. Ingram returned the ball 31 yards for a score that put Buffalo up 31-10. It was Tagovailoa's third career game with three interceptions.
Tagovailoa ran for a first down with 4:36 in the third and collided head-first into Hamlin and hit his head on the ground.
Bills players, as well as Tagovailoa's teammates, immediately waved for trainers to come to the field. The fifth-year quarterback was helped to his feet after a few minutes and walked under his own power to the locker room with trainers after throwing for 145 yards and a 5-yard touchdown to De'Von Achane.
Tagovailoa was diagnosed with two concussions in 2022. Skylar Thompson replaced him Thursday.
“I'm not worried about anything that's out of my hands," McDaniel said. "I'm just worried about the human being. He'll drive the ship when we get the appropriate information.”
Bills: Middle linebacker and captain Terrel Bernard left with a pectoral injury in the first quarter and did not return.
Dolphins: Starting offensive linemen Terron Armstead and Rob Jones both left with shoulder injuries. ... Jeff Wilson Jr. left with an oblique injury and did not return.
Bills: Host Jacksonville on Monday, Sept. 23.
Dolphins: At Seattle on Sunday, Sept. 22.
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
Buffalo Bills cornerback Christian Benford (47) runs after intercepting a pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Miami Dolphins running back De'Von Achane (28) is congratulated by his teammates after scoring a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Buffalo Bills cornerback Ja'Marcus Ingram (46) reacts after scoring a touchdown after intercepting a pass during the second half of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) looks to pass the ball during the first half of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Buffalo Bills running back James Cook (4) scores a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Buffalo Bills running back James Cook (4) holds onto the ball to score a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) collides with Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin (3) during the second half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. Tagovailoa was injured on the play. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) is assisted on the field during the second half of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) is assisted on the field during the second half of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Buffalo Bills running back James Cook (4) scores a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
