Snap elections provide a resounding victory for the president's party of Sri Lanka.

In crisis-stricken Sri Lanka, Dissanayake wants a strong mandate to carry out programs meant to reduce poverty.

Sri Lanka President Anura Kumara Dissanayake

With a resounding win in Sri Lanka's sudden general election, Anura Kumara Dissanayake's coalition has granted its new Marxist president more legislative authority to enact measures aimed at reviving a nation reeling from a financial crisis.

In September, Mr. Dissanayake, an outsider in a nation where family politics have ruled politics for decades, won the island's presidential election with ease.

However, he dissolved parliament and sought a new mandate after his Marxist-leaning coalition, the National People's Power (NPP), held only three of 225 seats before to Thursday's poll. In the midst of an ongoing financial crisis, this would assist strengthen support for his economic relief programs that try to lessen the hardships of Sri Lanka's poorest inhabitants.

The NPP secured 107 seats in the Sri Lankan election, gaining almost 62% or 6.8 million votes, putting them past the majority mark in parliament. A two-third majority appeared within reach of the coalition. 

The election marks a critical turning point for Sri Lanka, as the political culture change since September must continue.

The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) party, led by opposition figure Sajith Premadasa, was the main rival of the NPP in the election but failed to challenge President Dissanayake's success, capturing only 28 seats with 18% of the votes polled. 

The remaining 29 seats will be allocated based on the island-wide proportional vote obtained by each party. Celebrations were largely muted, except for a few NPP loyalists lighting fireworks in Colombo.

The 17 million Sri Lankans participated in a record-breaking election, with 690 parties and independent groups competing across 22 electoral districts. 

The vote grants lawmakers a five-year term in office, as the president seeks to address the country's debt and currency crises. Traditionally, voters support the president's party in parliamentary elections. 

President Dissanayake requires a parliamentary majority to appoint his cabinet and advance key economic policies, including a plan to abolish Sri Lanka's executive presidency, which requires a two-thirds majority in parliament.

Sri Lanka, a 22 million-strong nation, has been grappling with an economic crisis since 2022, which led to a 7.3% contraction in 2022 and a 2.3% drop in 2022. 

Despite securing a $2.9bn bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), many citizens still face high living costs. President Pranab Mukherjee's economic strategy aims to soften IMF's strict targets, reducing income tax obligations and directing funds towards welfare for those affected. 

However, this approach has raised concerns among investors, who fear it could disrupt future IMF disbursements and threaten Sri Lanka's goal of achieving a primary surplus of 2.3% of GDP by 2025. 

The president's ability to secure broad parliament support is crucial for implementing policies to stabilize the economy and address the needs of vulnerable populations.