Pennsylvania state senator sues critics of his book about WWI hero Sgt. York
Boeing Starliner astronauts will cast their votes from space
US home sales fell in August despite easing mortgage rates, more homes on the market
Lebanon bans pagers, walkie-talkies from flights
Romanian PM and former NATO official lead tight presidential race - poll
After comms blasts, Lebanese fear bombs in their pockets
Stocks jump Thursday after Federal Reserve’s jumbo-sized rate cut
Keith Urban says 'High' is about order and chaos, with songs about love, life and his late father
Skubal strengthens case for AL Cy Young as playoff-chasing Tigers sweep Royals
5 things to look for in Week 3 of the NFL regular season
By Uditha Jayasinghe
COLOMBO (Reuters) - Sri Lanka's presidential candidates wrapped up their campaigning on Wednesday, 48 hours before the election, pledging to fix the island country's ailing economy that is struggling to recover from a debilitating financial crisis.
Over 17 million Sri Lankans will vote on Saturday to elect a new president for a five-year term, the first election since a severe shortfall of dollar reserves pushed the South Asian island into its worst financial freefall in decades.
Supported by a $2.9 billion International Monetary Fund bailout the country has since posted a tentative recovery and is expected to post 3% growth this year. It is also working to finalise a $12.5 billion debt restructuring with bondholders.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe, one of the three frontrunners, recapped his policy wins and debt restructuring efforts in the last lap saying he hopes to complete negotiations with bondholders on Thursday.
"After that discussion we will be able to reach a decision and complete the debt restructuring process... I have the ability to complete this process and make the announcement before 21 September (election day)," he told a packed crowd in the southern town of Matara, about 157 km (98 miles) from the capital Colombo.
"I have shown the people that when I take up a task I complete it. Now it's up to you to decide what kind of path we should take from Sunday."
Marxist-leaning parliamentarian Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who is leading the contest, according to the latest opinion poll, called for voters to back him to reduce poverty and fight corruption.
"Hundreds of thousands of people have gathered with us because they hope for a better future. The first step of that journey will begin on 22 September," he told a gathering in Galle, a tourist hot spot in southern Sri Lanka.
Sajith Premadasa, the current opposition leader, pledged to ease the cost of living for Sri Lankans and promote tourism and agriculture exports.
"We will build a country that will give prosperity to everyone and give the millions who are now struggling a decent life," Premadasa said.
The election's result is expected to be announced on Sunday with a new president sworn in shortly after.
(Reporting by Uditha Jayasinghe; editing by Jonathan Oatis)
