The sweeping mandate to the left coalition underlines widening support for his leftist policies, giving him the power to push through his plans to fight poverty and graft in the island nation struggling to emerge from the worst financial crisis.

Sri Lankan President Dissanayake's NPP wins a historic landslide, signaling a shift in politics. Despite past opposition to India, he seeks closer ties with India while avoiding geopolitical tensions.

Sri Lanka's National People's Power (NPP) party, led by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, secured a majority in the parliamentary snap elections on Friday. The NPP won 107 seats with nearly 62% of the vote,