Sri Lankan leader seeks big majority in snap election

President Dissanayake wants to push through reforms to help the nation recover from a debt crisis.

British Broadcasting CorporationWatchHomeNewsUS ElectionSportBusinessInnovationCultureArtsTravelEarthVideoLiveHomeNewsIsrael-Gaza WarWar in UkraineUS & CanadaUKUK PoliticsEnglandN. IrelandN. Ireland PoliticsScotlandScotland PoliticsWalesWales PoliticsAfricaAsiaChinaIndiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastIn PicturesBBC InDepthBBC VerifyUS ElectionFull resultsKamala HarrisDonald TrumpJD VanceTim WalzSportBusinessExecutive LoungeTechnology of BusinessFuture of BusinessInnovationTechnologyScience & HealthArtificial IntelligenceAI v the MindCultureFilm & TVMusicArt & DesignStyleBooksEntertainment NewsArtsArts in MotionTravelDestinationsAfricaAntarcticaAsiaAustralia and PacificCaribbean & BermudaCentral AmericaEuropeMiddle EastNorth AmericaSouth AmericaWorld’s TableCulture & ExperiencesAdventuresThe SpeciaListEarthNatural WondersWeather & ScienceClimate SolutionsSustainable BusinessGreen LivingVideoLiveLive NewsLive SportHomeNewsUS ElectionSportBusinessInnovationCultureArtsTravelEarthVideoLiveAudioWeatherNewslettersSri Lankan leader seeks big majority in snap electionReutersPresident Dissanayake is hoping for a clear majority for his alliance Votes are being counted in Sri Lanka after snap parliamentary elections, barely seven weeks after a new president was sworn in.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, whose Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) party had just three seats in the outgoing assembly, hopes to get a clear majority. He was elected on a promise to combat corruption and restore stability after the island's worst ever economic crisis.

The high cost of living is still a key issue for many voters.

Nearly two-thirds of former MPs chose not to run for re-election, including prominent members of the former ruling Rajapaksa dynasty. Results are expected on Friday.

"We believe that this is a crucial election that will mark a turning point in Sri Lanka," President Dissanayake told reporters after voting in the capital Colombo.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd7n4y094dpo

---