Sri Lanka, Feb. 8 -- Voting has ended in Japan's snap election called by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, with exit polls pointing to a decisive win for her Liberal Democrat Party (LDP).

The country's first female prime minister is seeking a clear public mandate just four months after becoming party leader.

Her predicted success is in marked contrast to her two predecessors, under whom the party lost its parliamentary majority because of corruption scandals and rising costs.

An LDP-led coalition has governed Japan for much of its post-war history due to the lack of a strong opposition.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Ada Derana....