This snap election, called by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, comes at a critical time for Sri Lanka, which is still grappling with the aftershocks of its worst economic crisis since independence.

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake is looking to consolidate his party's power in Thursday's parliamentary election to help him implement his election pledges to solve the country's economic woes and foster good governance.

The snap parliamentary elections were called by President Dissanayake after he won polls in September on a promise to combat corruption and improve the country's economic situation.

Sri Lanka will vote in a snap general election on Thursday, called by new President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to secure a majority in parliament to back his policies in the island nation struggling to recover from a crushing financial crisis.

Sri Lanka is set to hold on Thursday its snap parliamentary election – first after the 2022 economic crisis – amid deployment of nearly 90,000 security personnel across the country