Following protests in Sri Lanka that ousted the president, battle begins over power

Three candidates are in the race to be Sri Lanka's next president after former Gotabaya Rajapasa leader left the country and resigned last week due to the island's worst economic crisis.

Acting President Ranil Wickremedsinghe will face opposition-backed candidate Dullas Alapperuma and Marxist party leader Anura Kumar Dissanayake in the vote to be held Wednesday, parliament announced during a brief session Tuesday.

Syith Premadasa, who was earlier supported by the opposition as their candidate and was likely a leader, has withdrawn from the race.