COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s first presidential elections since an unprecedented economic crisis spurred widespread unrest will be held in September, the election commission said Friday. President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who has steered an effort to repair the island nation’s ruined finances, will face at least two rivals campaigning against austerity measures imposed under an International Monetary Fund bailout plan. The commission said in a gazette notification that candidate nominations will be accepted on August 15 for a September 21 poll.