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.

With 38 candidates in the race, Premadasa is polling second at 32%, according to the Sri Lanka Opinion Tracker Survey, trailing Anura Kumara Dissanayake at 36% and ahead of President Ranil Wickremesinghe at 28%.