Two years ago, tens of thousands of Sri Lankans rose up against their president and forced him to flee the country. As the country prepares for its first election since then, many say they’re still waiting for change.

Scarred by a decades-long civil war and struggling to survive in Sri Lanka's crippled economy, ethnic minority Tamils in the island nation say they have little hope that Saturday's presidential election will improve their lot by much.

On Sept. 21, 17 million Sri Lankans will cast their vote to select the country’s next president. This is the first popular election since the country defaulted on its sovereign debt payments in 2022 and spiraled into its worst economic crisis since it gained independence in 1948.