Anura Kumara Dissanayake is a prominent candidate in Sri Lanka's presidential election, known for his leftist policies and anti-corruption promises. Despite limited parliamentary seats, Dissanayake has seen a surge in popularity with his pledge for change and economic reforms at a time of national crisis.

By Libby George, Karin Strohecker and Uditha Jayasinghe LONDON (Reuters) -Sri Lanka reached a draft deal with creditors to restructure $12.5 billion of international bonds, it said on Thursday, in a major boost to the island nation's fragile recovery just two days before its presidential election.

Sri Lankans who usually vote along religious and ethnic lines will be keeping the state of the economy in mind when they vote Saturday on a new president.