Anura Kumara Dissanayake  is expected to be sworn in on Monday at Colombos Presidential Secretariat, a symbol of the country’s colonial heritage.

The election was crucial as Sri Lanka seeks to recover from the worst economic crisis in its history and the resulting political upheaval.

Sri Lanka's Marxist-leaning leader, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, grabbed a commanding early lead on Sunday in his bid to become the next president of the debt-ridden country seeking to elect a leader to bolster its fragile economic recovery.