President Anura Kumara Dissanayake's promise to hold corrupt officials accountable has fueled his public support.

Sri Lanka holds a snap election on Thursday which will determine if the South Asian island nation wants to empower its new, leftist President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to push his anti-poverty policies as it recovers from a financial meltdown.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake won the presidential election on September 21 in a victory that marked a rejection of the traditional political parties.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake seeks a fresh mandate in Parliament to promote his welfare policies and renegotiate terms under the IMF bailout programme.

Sri Lanka's snap general election could expand President Anura Kumara Dissanayake's legislative power amid economic recovery efforts. The election will decide if his leftist coalition can secure a parliamentary majority to implement key reforms.

As many as 196 members are to be elected from the 22 districts based on the proportional representation system while 29 would be elected from the cumulative votes polled national list to provide a 225-member Parliament for a five-year term.

Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake is looking to consolidate his party’s power in Thursday’s parliamentary election to help him implement his election pledges to solve the country’s economic woes and foster good governance.

Sri Lanka's first parliamentary elections since its 2022 economic crisis occurred, posing a major test for the ruling National People's Power (NPP) led by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Despite the anticipated lower voter turnout of 65%,

In the past four years, the share of people living below the poverty line in Sri Lanka has risen to 25.9 per cent. The World Bank forecasts the economy to grow by just 2.2 per cent in 2024. Mr Dissanayake needs his alliance to win a two-thirds majority of 225 seats in the legislature to press forward with his reform package.

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Sri Lankans are voting in a parliamentary election Thursday that is key for the country's new, Marxist-leaning president to consolidate his party's power and follow through on promises of economic recovery.

Sri Lanka began voting in a snap election on Thursday which will determine if the island nation wants to empower its new, leftist President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to push his pro-poor policies as it recovers from a financial meltdown.