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

Sri Lanka began voting in a snap election on Thursday which will determine if the island nation wants to empower its new, leftist President Anura Kumara Dissanayake to push his pro-poor policies as it recovers from a financial meltdown.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, whose Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) party had just three seats in the outgoing assembly, hopes to get a clear majority. He was elected on a promise to combat corruption and restore stability after the island's worst ever economic crisis. The high cost of living is still a key issue for many voters.