Sri Lankans handed Anura Kumara Dissanayake a thumping win in a snap general election, giving its new leftist president greater legislative power to pursue policies to alleviate poverty and fight graft as the country recovers from a financial meltdown.

Party of Sri Lanka's new Marxist-leaning president is leading in parliamentary elections, results show.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake's promise to hold corrupt officials accountable has fueled his public support.