Sri Lankan president votes, says confident of re-election

Hambantota, Sri Lanka:  Sri Lanka's Mahinda Rajapakse said he was confident he would be returned to power as he cast his ballot in presidential elections on Thursday. The president, who is running for an unprecedented third term after changing the constitution, promised a peaceful post-election period and said his opponents would be protected.

 

"We will have a resounding victory. That is very clear. From tomorrow, we will start implementing our manifesto," he told reporters in his constituency in Hambantota in the south of the island.

 

Rajapakse faces a strong challenge from Maithripala Sirisena, who defected from his government to stand as the main opposition candidate.

 

The closely fought campaign has been marred by violence, and top US diplomat John Kerry this week urged Rajapakse to ensure the election was peaceful and credible.

 

Rajapakse appeared assured of victory when he called snap polls in November, seeking an unprecedented third term in office five years after crushing a violent separatist rebellion that had traumatised the country for decades.

 

But his health minister's shock decision to defect from the government and stand against him led to a bitterly fought campaign for an election analysts say is too close to call.

 

Maithripala Sirisena was a relative unknown until he announced he was standing as the main opposition candidate, but has led a slew of defections and become a rallying point for disaffection with Rajapakse and his powerful family.