Sri Lanka holds its breath as parliament chooses new president amid crisis

A win for acting president Ranil Wickremesinghe could spark more protests by people furious with ruling elite over crippling shortages

Sri Lanka's parliament will choose between three candidates for president on Wednesday, hoping the new leader will be able to pull the island out of its worst economic and political crisis since independence in 1948.

A win for the acting president, Ranil Wickremesinghe - one of the main two contenders but opposed by many ordinary Sri Lankans - could lead to more demonstrations by people furious with the ruling elite after months of crippling shortages of fuel, food and medicines.