Sri Lankans vote with issues of welfare, economic reforms at stake

Sri Lankans began voting on Thursday in a snap general election to decide if the Indian Ocean island nation will give its new leftist president greater legislative power to help the poor as it recovers from a financial meltdown.

Just over 17 million Sri Lankans are eligible to elect lawmakers to the 225-member parliament for a five-year term. A record 690 political parties and independent groups are in the fray across 22 electoral districts.

"I think we are seeing the first signs of a positive political change in Sri Lanka after the president was elected and we should give him the chance to continue that change," said Umeshi Perera, 32, who queued to vote in a Colombo suburb.

The president, Marxist-leaning Anura Kumara Dissanayake, 55, was elected in September but his National People's Power (NPP) coalition had just three of parliament's 225 seats, prompting him to dissolve it and seek a fresh mandate.

Voting was proceeding smoothly, a police spokesman said, after more than 7,000 officers fanned out to more than 13,400 polling stations nationwide to keep the polls free and fair.

"The military is also on standby to assist the police but we do not expect any incidents," the spokesman, Nihal Thalduwa, added.

People trickled into temples, schools and other public buildings being used as polling stations soon after polls opened. Votes will be counted soon after polling closes on Thursday, with results set for Friday.

Analysts say Dissanayake's coalition is expected to draw significant support, while a victory for a rival could lead to a policy logjam the country cannot afford.

A political outsider in a country dominated by family parties for decades, Dissanayake backs policies to fight poverty, such as bigger welfare measures, as well as battle graft.

Sri Lanka typically backs its president in general elections, especially if it is held soon after a presidential vote.

The president wields executive power but Dissanayake still requires a parliamentary majority to appoint a fully-fledged cabinet and deliver on key election promises to cut taxes, support local businesses, and fight poverty.

"This election is critical as it is a test for the NPP to get the numbers needed for the IMF package and to take forward promised governance, constitutional and economic reforms," said Bhavani Fonseka, a researcher at Colombo's Centre for Policy Alternatives.

"The next task is to unite people from the four corners of this country and build a powerful people's movement."