Anura Kumara Dissanayake poised to become Sri Lanka's ninth president with impressive lead in postal voting results.

Sri Lanka's Marxist-leaning leader, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, grabbed a commanding early lead on Sunday in his bid to become the next president.

Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the leader of the Marxist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna's (JVP) broader front National People's Power (NPP), on Sunday consolidated his lead in the Sri Lanka's presidential election.

Anura Kumara Dissanayake, a Marxist-leaning candidate, is currently leading Sri Lanka's presidential election with 53% of votes counted.

In a historic first, Sri Lanka’s presidential election went into a second round of counting after no candidate secured over 50% vote needed to be declared the winner.

Sri Lanka polls: The latest results showed Anura Kumara Dissanayake of the Marxist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna party's broader front National People’s Power (NPP) had won 39.52 per cent of the votes counted.

Sri Lanka's Marxist-leaning leader, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, won the presidential election for the debt-ridden island nation, local TV said on Sunday, citing Election Commission figures.

Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who is scheduled to be sworn in on Monday, in his initial response said the unity of Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims, and all Sri Lankans is the bedrock of the new beginning.