Sri Lankans voted 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.

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.

Sri Lanka began counting votes cast on Thursday in a snap general election that will decide if the Indian Ocean island nation will give its new leftist president greater legislative power to help the poor as it recovers from a financial meltdown.

COLOMBO: The ruling National People's Power (NPP) party led by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has taken an unassailable lead in the parliamentary election held on Thursday. As of 6 am local time Friday,

Sri Lanka's National People's Power (NPP) party, led by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, is poised to win a majority in the recent parliamentary elections. With over 62% of the vote, the NPP has secured 52 seats so far,

As Sri Lanka heads to the polls today, President Dissanayake faces a critical test for his National People’s Power party amid a backdrop of economic crisis and political upheaval. With the nation seeking accountability and reform,

With Sri Lanka's economic recovery hanging in balance, President Dissanayake hopes voters give him a strong mandate for his policies to reduce taxes and boost welfare.Voting began in Sri Lanka's snap parliamentary election on Thursday,