Sri Lanka has more women voters than men but no female presidential candidates

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Women make up more than half of the voters in Sri Lanka, but not a single one will be on the ballot in Saturday’s presidential election.

The island nation of more than 22 million people is voting for a president to take its economy forward after it went through an unprecedented financial crisis two years ago that led to the ouster of its head of government. The election will allow more than 17 million eligible voters to choose from a record 38 candidates. But women — who account for nearly 9 million voters — will have no gender representation.

“I feel a little disappointed,” said first-time voter Sandami Nimesha.

Nimesha, a 20-year-old information technology student, said even though presidents have an obligation to offer solutions to the problems faced by the public regardless of their gender, a woman president “would give more attention to serve the female voters” and focus on issues that affect them.

“I think it’s better if there is a female candidate,” she said.

Saturday's election is seen as a three-way contest between current President Ranil Wickremesinghe, opposition leader Sajith Premadasa, and parliamentarian Anura Dissanayake, who is leader of a Marxist-led coalition that has gained popularity. Results of the election are expected Sunday.

Sri Lanka’s politics have mostly been dominated by men since the island nation introduced universal suffrage in 1931. It's a trend seen in most countries globally — in 2023, a Pew Research Center analysis found only 13 of the 193 member states of the United Nations had women as the head of government.

To be sure, women have held some important positions in the Sri Lankan government in the past.

Sirimavo Bandaranaike served her first term as prime minister of Sri Lanka for nearly five years starting in 1960. Even though it was her prime minister husband's assassination that forced her political entry, she held the distinction of being the world’s first woman to be elected prime minister and would go one to hold that office twice more. Her younger daughter, Chandrika Kumaratunga, later became the country’s first and only female president, holding office from 1994 to 2005.

Both these women came from families with a political legacy. But even Sri Lankan women with political backgrounds tend to enter into politics only after the death or assassination of their male relatives, in most cases their husbands — particularly during the brutal civil war that began in 1983 and ended in 2009.

For a country that passed a law in 2016 mandating local councils must be at least 25% women, a move widely seen as progressive in promoting gender equality, many feel there should be more parity in politics by now.

Women's rights activist Sepali Kottegoda said the lack of female candidates for president is emblematic of a patriarchal structure deeply embedded in Sri Lanka’s politics.

“The main political parties are so male-oriented, and so many men on the top hold power, that they don’t find it convenient to step aside and allow women party members to come up and contest,” she said.

Kottegoda, who founded the Colombo-based Women and Media Collective, was among those who advocated and worked to get the 25% quota for women in local councils.

“We felt that opening doors for women to get into local councils was one way through which they can work their way up,” Kottegoda said.

Now, her organization is seeking a similar quota for women in the 255-member Parliament, where their representation stands at a mere 5.3%.

In 2019, academic and scientist Ajantha Perera was the first woman to run for president in 20 years. She lost to Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who was ousted in 2022 after angry protesters blamed his administration for the unprecedented economic crisis.

Even though Perera rues the absence of women in Saturday's election, she hopes a strong female candidate runs for the president’s office in future.

“I firmly believe that might make a difference,” she said.

FILE - Sirimavo Bandaranaike, left, thrice Sri Lanka's prime minister, talks with her successor Ratnasiri Wickramanayake after he was sworn in, in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Aug. 10, 2000. (AP Photo, File)

Ajantha Perera, an academic and scientist, who in 2019 was the first woman to run for president in 20 years, poses for a photograph, in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)

Women listen to Sajith Premadasa, unseen, the presidential candidate and opposition leader of the Samagi Jana Balawgaya or United People's Power party during an election rally, in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)

A woman walks on a street across which a large billboard showing a portrait of Sajith Premadasa, the presidential candidate and opposition leader of the Samagi Jana Balawgaya or United People's Power party, is displayed, in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)

Sri Lankan women, who live outside of Sri Lanka, campaign for the National People's Power presidential candidate Anura Dissanayaka, in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)

A woman listens to Sajith Premadasa, unseen, the presidential candidate and opposition leader of the Samagi Jana Balawgaya or United People's Power party, at an election rally, in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)

A woman supporter of Sri Lankan President and independent presidential candidate Ranil Wickremesinghe, holds a placard at an election rally in Minuwangoda, Sri Lanka, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Rajesh Kumar Singh)

NEW YORK (AP) — Alec Bohm had four hits and four RBIs, including a three-run homer, and the Philadelphia Phillies wrapped up their third straight playoff berth in style by blowing out the New York Mets 12-2 on Friday night.

Nick Castellanos had three hits and two RBIs, J.T. Realmuto added a two-run homer and the Phillies (92-62) extended their NL East lead to seven games over the second-place Mets (85-69) with eight to play.

“I thought it was just a great night overall,” manager Rob Thomson said.

Assured at least a National League wild card, the Phillies can secure their first division title since 2011 with one more win this weekend against the rival Mets at Citi Field.

"We work really hard all season, six months for this,” winning pitcher Cristopher Sánchez said through a translator. “I think it's just something beautiful that this happened today. Something really special for us.”

With the division crown so close, the Phillies kept it mellow in the postgame clubhouse with a champagne toast to their achievement led by Thomson.

“Pretty calm and relaxed from what it usually turns into,” Bohm said with a chuckle.

They hope to let loose soon with a boozy locker-room bash after locking up first place.

“It’ll be a little more rowdy, for sure,” Bohm said.

Philadelphia's victory coupled with Atlanta's 4-3 loss at last-place Miami eliminated the Braves from contention for the NL East crown — ending their six-year reign atop the division.

New York, which had won four in a row and 16 of 20, fell a game behind Arizona for the second of three NL wild cards. But the Mets remained two games ahead of Atlanta for the league's last playoff spot.

A cheer went up in the crowd of 41,474, subdued after an energetic start, when the final score of Atlanta's game was posted on the out-of-town scoreboard.

Philadelphia stole five bases — four in a six-run fourth inning capped by Bohm's homer off reliever Adam Ottavino. Johan Rojas had a two-run double off starter David Peterson (9-3), pulled after just 64 pitches and 3 2/3 innings — his shortest start this season.

“Thought the second time through they were putting together some really good at-bats,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said. “They made some good adjustments and they put the barrel on the ball. I thought I needed to be aggressive there. It didn’t work.”

Sánchez (11-9) overcame a shaky start and five walks in five innings. Philadelphia outhit the Mets 17-4.

“I liked our approach against Peterson. He’s really good," Thomson said. "I think that seeing him the second time in a week helped.”

Jose Iglesias launched his first career leadoff homer for New York, pushing his hitting streak to 14 games.

Mets slugger J.D. Martinez went 0 for 3 with a walk and is hitless in 31 at-bats, the longest skid of his career.

“It’s been tough. It’s been hard for him,” Mendoza said. “But he’s grinding and he will continue to grind through it.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Phillies: OF Austin Hays (kidney infection) worked out the past two days at Citi Field and will be the DH in a rehab game Saturday with Triple-A Lehigh Valley. He is scheduled to play the field Sunday and potentially come off the injured list Tuesday. ... RHP Spencer Turnbull (right lat strain) is slated to throw two innings Sunday for Lehigh Valley and then return to the team's training complex in Florida to continue rehabbing. Thomson didn't completely rule out the possibility of Turnbull pitching for the Phillies in the postseason. Turnbull has been on the injured list since June 27.

Mets: Francisco Lindor (sore back) has missed five straight games and played only one inning in the past seven. He received a numbing injection for the facet joints on each side of the spine. “Trying to do whatever it takes to come back as soon as I can. Without it,” Lindor said, “it didn’t feel like I could get back sooner rather than later.” The star shortstop ran, played catch and took a couple rounds of batting practice from the right side. Before the game, Mendoza said if Lindor felt good enough to get through baseball activities, it's possible he could return to the lineup Saturday. ... RHP Kodai Senga (strained left calf) will throw no more than two innings and 30-35 pitches in a rehab outing Saturday for Triple-A Syracuse. If all goes well, he could come off the 60-day injured list and be available to pitch in some role Friday at Milwaukee. “Ultimately we'll have to make a judgment call on what's best for the team,” president of baseball operations David Stearns said. ... C Francisco Alvarez and OF Tyrone Taylor were rested.

UP NEXT

All-Star lefty Ranger Suárez (12-7, 3.13 ERA) pitches Saturday for Philadelphia against Mets LHP Sean Manaea (11-5, 3.26), who has lasted at least 6 2/3 innings in seven consecutive outings.

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Philadelphia Phillies' Alec Bohm reacts after hitting a three-run home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Philadelphia Phillies' J.T. Realmuto, right, is congratulated by Nick Castellanos, left, after hitting a two-run home run during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

New York Mets' David Peterson pitches during the first inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Philadelphia Phillies relief pitcher Jeff Hoffman, right, and catcher J.T. Realmuto (10) celebrate after defeating the New York Mets in a baseball game Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm, right, and Bryce Harper (3) celebrate after defeating the New York Mets in a baseball game Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Philadelphia Phillies' Cristopher Sanchez pitches during the first inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

New York Mets starting pitcher David Peterson reacts walking to the dugout after being removed during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Philadelphia Phillies' Alec Bohm, top left, is tagged out by New York Mets starting pitcher David Peterson, bottom left, while trying to score on a fielder's choice during the third inning of a baseball game Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in New York. Home plate umpire Edwin Moscoso, right, looks on. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Philadelphia Phillies' Nick Castellanos hits an RBI double during the third inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Philadelphia Phillies' Johan Rojas hits a two-run scoring ground rule double during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

Philadelphia Phillies' Alec Bohm hits a three-run home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)