Sri Lankans handed Anura Kumara Dissanayake a thumping win in a snap general election, giving its new leftist president greater legislative power to pursue policies to alleviate poverty and fight graft as the country recovers from a financial meltdown.

COLOMBO (Reuters) - Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake's coalition, the National People's Power (NPP), was set for victory in a snap general election, results from the Indian Ocean island's poll body showed on Friday.

Mr Dissanayake took power in September’s presidential elections on a promise to combat graft. Read more at straitstimes.com.

A parliamentary majority will allow Anura Kumara Dissanayake to consolidate power and advance reforms.

Colombo: Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake's coalition, the National People's Power (NPP), is set to win a majority in a snap general election, results from the Indian Ocean island's poll body showed on Friday.

Sri Lanka's president's coalition, the National People's Power (NPP) posted an early lead in a parliamentary election, local television channel Ada Derana said on Thursday. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake called for snap a general election in September to seek a mandate to take forward his policies in the island nation struggling to emerge from a severe financial crisis.

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

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

Sri Lankans began voting on Thursday in a snap election to decide if the Indian Ocean island will give its new leftist president greater strength to help the poor as it recovers from a financial meltdown.