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.

The upcoming Sri Lankan presidential elections feature many old and popular names. However, one among them stands out — Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the leader of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) party.

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.