Voting ends in Sri Lanka's parliamentary election that's key for its new Marxist-leaning president
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
By KRISHAN FRANCIS
Published - Nov 14, 2024, 06:05 AM ET
Last Updated - Dec 16, 2024, 05:25 PM EST
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — 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.
Voting ended at 4 p.m. local time with more than 17 million people eligible to vote. Details on the voter turnout were not immediately available.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake won the presidential election on Sept. 21 in a victory that marked a rejection of the traditional political parties, which have governed the island nation since its independence from British rule in 1948.
However, Dissanayake’s failure to secure more than 50% of the vote has fueled concerns over his party’s outlook in Thursday's election.
