Sri Lankan leader’s coalition heads for victory

The alliance of Sri Lanka’s new leader is headed for victory in the country’s snap parliamentary elections.

President Anura Dissanayake’s National People’s Power (NPP) coalition has so far won 97 seats and more than 60% of the vote from Thursday’s poll and needs 113 seats in the 225-member house to secure a majority.

Dissanayake, who was elected in September, needs a clear majority to deliver his promise to combat corruption and restore stability after the island’s worst-ever economic crisis.

The high cost of living was one of the key issues for many voters.

Analysts expect the NPP to do well in the elections but what remains to be determined is the margin of victory, and whether it gets the two-thirds majority it wants to be able to pass its ambitious reforms.