This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/south_asia/8454285.stm

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
One dead in Sri Lanka poll attack One dead in Sri Lanka poll attack
(about 5 hours later)
Gunmen in Sri Lanka have fired on a bus, killing a supporter of opposition candidate Sarath Fonseka, police say.Gunmen in Sri Lanka have fired on a bus, killing a supporter of opposition candidate Sarath Fonseka, police say.
At least four people were wounded in the attack in the south of the island, officials added.At least four people were wounded in the attack in the south of the island, officials added.
The unidentified attackers were riding on a motorbike when they sprayed bullets into the bus, police said.The unidentified attackers were riding on a motorbike when they sprayed bullets into the bus, police said.
The 26 January presidential elections are taking place amid heightened political tension. Gen Fonseka is the main rival to President Rajapaksa.The 26 January presidential elections are taking place amid heightened political tension. Gen Fonseka is the main rival to President Rajapaksa.
Previous elections have been marred by violence. He resigned from his post as chief of defence staff in November following differences with the government over who should take credit for defeating the Tamil Tiger rebels last May.
Tuesday's fatal shooting, near the town of Hungama, was the first in the run-up to the vote. There have been dozens of other, less serious, instances of violence ahead of the election. Woman killed
Previous elections in Sri Lanka have been marred by violence and Tuesday's attack brought calls for the authorities to ensure a free and fair vote.
The fatal shooting, near the town of Hungama, was the first killing in the run-up to the ballot. There have been dozens of other, less serious, instances of violence ahead of the election.
The woman activist killed on Tuesday was about 60 and had been heading for an opposition rally.
In a statement, the Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) said two attackers on motorbikes shot at the tyres of the bus before opening fire on its rear windows and passengers inside.In a statement, the Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) said two attackers on motorbikes shot at the tyres of the bus before opening fire on its rear windows and passengers inside.
"One person was killed instantly, another opposition supporter was hospitalised and several others had minor injuries," a police officer, who declined to be named, told AFP news agency."One person was killed instantly, another opposition supporter was hospitalised and several others had minor injuries," a police officer, who declined to be named, told AFP news agency.
Gen Fonseka resigned from his post as chief of defence staff in November following differences with the government over who should take credit for defeating the Tamil Tiger rebels. Earlier the president proposed power-sharing arrangements for minority Tamils ahead of the presidential vote.
In the same month he sent a scathing letter to President Rajapaksa, complaining that his powers had been removed weeks after the government's military victory against the Tigers. class="" href="/2/hi/south_asia/8453673.stm">President Rajapaksa woos Tamils
The general also said that the president appeared to mistrust him.
On Tuesday the president proposed power-sharing arrangements for minority Tamils ahead of the key presidential vote.
He said that he wanted to create a second chamber in parliament to allow more Tamil representatives to have a say in law-making.He said that he wanted to create a second chamber in parliament to allow more Tamil representatives to have a say in law-making.
"The end of the war does not mean the end of the conflict," President Rajapaksa told foreign reporters at his Temple Trees residence in Colombo.
"We need to politically address the needs of Tamils."
The president also announced a $4bn (£2.4bn) fund to rebuild the island nation's war-shattered north.The president also announced a $4bn (£2.4bn) fund to rebuild the island nation's war-shattered north.
Correspondents say the Tamil vote could be decisive in the election.
Split voteSplit vote
Correspondents say the Tamil vote could be decisive in the election. Sri Lanka's 2.5 million Tamils make up about 12.5% of the population.
Tamils could hold the balance of power
Both President Rajapaksa and Gen Fonseka are eager to win Tamil support in the event that the majority Sinhalese vote is split between them.Both President Rajapaksa and Gen Fonseka are eager to win Tamil support in the event that the majority Sinhalese vote is split between them.
Last week the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) - which has 22 seats in the 225-member parliament - announced its support for Gen Fonseka. Last week the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) - which has 22 seats in the 225-member parliament - announced it was backing Gen Fonseka.
Both main presidential contenders are reaching out for the Tamil vote Both candidates have been campaigning in the northern Tamil heartland of Jaffna - which correspondents say would have been unimaginable a year ago, when fighting raged between Tamil Tigers and government troops elsewhere in the north.
"The end of the war does not mean the end of the conflict," President Rajapaksa told reporters at his Temple Trees residence in Colombo.
"We need to politically address the needs of Tamils," he said.
The president said that although the All Party Representative Committee (APRC) was supposed to be drawing up proposals on how Tamil people could be integrated into the political process, he wanted to pre-empt their conclusions by suggesting this power-sharing deal.
Correspondents say that a second parliamentary chamber has existed before in Sri Lanka but was abolished in the late 1970s.
They say that the focus of the presidential campaign now seems to be a contest between the two main contenders as to who can offer the most to the Tamil community.
The votes of Sri Lanka's 2.5 million Tamils - who make about 12.5% of the population - could be critical for the outcome.
Both men have been on the campaign trail in the northern Tamil heartland of Jaffna - a turn of events which correspondents say would have been unimaginable a year ago, when fighting raged between Tamil Tigers and government troops elsewhere in the north.
The rebels - fighting for a separate Tamil homeland - were defeated by the army in May, ending 26 years of civil war.The rebels - fighting for a separate Tamil homeland - were defeated by the army in May, ending 26 years of civil war.