The party of Sri Lanka’s new Marxist-leaning President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has taken a large lead in early results from the parliamentary elections, in an apparent solid mandate for his program for economic revival.

Securing a parliamentary majority will be crucial for Dissanayake to implement his agenda fully, as executive power alone does not permit the appointment of a full cabinet or the passage of significant economic policies.

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.

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,

Counting of votes in the Sri Lankan snap elections is underway as the country’s President Anura Kumara Dissanayake seeks to increase NPP’s power in the parliament. The results show Dissanayake heading

Sri Lankans began voting on Thursday in a snap Parliamentary election, widely seen as an attempt by new Leftist President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to seek a clear mandate to push his pro-poor welfare policies.

Sri Lanka votes in a snap general election on Thursday, called by new President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to secure a majority in parliament to back his policies in the island nation struggling to reco

Sri Lankans have voted in a parliamentary election that's key for their new, Marxist-leaning president to consolidate his party’s power and follow through on promises of economic recovery