By Uditha Jayasinghe and Sudipto Ganguly COLOMBO (Reuters) -Marxist-leaning Anura Kumara Dissanayake was leading Sri Lanka's presidential election with half the votes counted on Sunday, seeming to knock out the incumbent for the chance to lead the heavily indebted nation's fragile economic recovery.

Women make up more than half of the voters in Sri Lanka, but in Saturday’s presidential election, not even one will be on the ballot.

Sajith Premadasa, leader of Sri Lanka's main opposition party, is contesting the presidential election, decades after his father was assassinated while holding the same position. Premadasa’s policies advocate economic changes,

Sajith Premadasa, the leader of Sri Lanka's main opposition party, is a frontrunner in Saturday's presidential election and a win will hand him the top job more than 30 years after his father was assassinated while holding the same post.

Three decades after his father was assassinated as Sri Lanka's leader, opposition chief Sajith Premadasa is a top contender to take on the role in this week's presidential elections.

With 38 candidates in the race, Premadasa is polling second at 32%, according to the Sri Lanka Opinion Tracker Survey, trailing Anura Kumara Dissanayake at 36% and ahead of President Ranil Wickremesinghe at 28%.

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Sri Lankans began voting Saturday in a presidential election that will determine the course of the country’s recovery from its worst economic crisis and resulting political upheaval.

Sri Lanka's crucial presidential election on September 21, 2024, focuses on economic recovery and relief from hardships.