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Bitter rivals face Sri Lanka vote Bitter rivals face Sri Lanka vote
(30 minutes later)
Sri Lankans are voting in the country's presidential election, the first since the Tamil Tiger rebels were defeated after 25 years of civil war. Sri Lankans are voting in the country's presidential election, the first since the Tamil Tiger rebels were defeated after more than 25 years of civil war.
Security is tight, and four minor blasts were reported in the northern Tamil city of Jaffna.Security is tight, and four minor blasts were reported in the northern Tamil city of Jaffna.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa is facing a close contest against his former army chief, General Sarath Fonseka.President Mahinda Rajapaksa is facing a close contest against his former army chief, General Sarath Fonseka.
The former allies became bitter rivals when Gen Fonseka decided to run for the presidency. The former allies became bitter rivals over who should take credit for the defeat of the separatist Tamil Tigers.
Gen Fonseka subsequently decided to run for the presidency.
More than 14m voters are eligible to vote in 11,000 centres. Polls will close at 1600 local time (1030 GMT).More than 14m voters are eligible to vote in 11,000 centres. Polls will close at 1600 local time (1030 GMT).
Counting will begin three hours later and the final results are expected to be announced on Wednesday morning, the election commission has said.Counting will begin three hours later and the final results are expected to be announced on Wednesday morning, the election commission has said.
There are 22 candidates standing for the presidency.There are 22 candidates standing for the presidency.
If no candidate has 50% plus one vote after the first count, second preferences will be tallied and the candidate with the greatest number of votes wins.If no candidate has 50% plus one vote after the first count, second preferences will be tallied and the candidate with the greatest number of votes wins.
At 1500 local time (0930 GMT) turnout was reported to be at about 60%, an independent monitoring body said.
'Remarkable victory''Remarkable victory'
About 250,000 Sri Lankan election officials moved into position throughout the country after collecting polling cards and ballot boxes from central election offices.About 250,000 Sri Lankan election officials moved into position throughout the country after collecting polling cards and ballot boxes from central election offices.
AT THE SCENE Ethirajan Anbarasan, BBC News, ColomboAT THE SCENE Ethirajan Anbarasan, BBC News, Colombo
Gun-wielding policemen were posted outside most polling stations while soldiers patrolled the streets. There were fears of poll-day violence.Gun-wielding policemen were posted outside most polling stations while soldiers patrolled the streets. There were fears of poll-day violence.
Elderly women, nuns and professionals waited in queue to cast their ballot. Sinhalese, Christians, Muslims and Tamils all came out to vote - reflecting the ethnic diversity of this island nation.Elderly women, nuns and professionals waited in queue to cast their ballot. Sinhalese, Christians, Muslims and Tamils all came out to vote - reflecting the ethnic diversity of this island nation.
Some of the voters said this was a crucial election and that the country had to move on after the war. "We need to move forward, capitalise on whatever we have missed out on, and hopefully have a better future for all of us in Sri Lanka," said a businessman in Colombo.Some of the voters said this was a crucial election and that the country had to move on after the war. "We need to move forward, capitalise on whatever we have missed out on, and hopefully have a better future for all of us in Sri Lanka," said a businessman in Colombo.
Joy William, a poll monitor, said except for some stray incidents the polling had been peaceful and brisk so far.Joy William, a poll monitor, said except for some stray incidents the polling had been peaceful and brisk so far.
Polling centres have also been set up for people displaced by the war near the northern town of Vavuniya.Polling centres have also been set up for people displaced by the war near the northern town of Vavuniya.
One voter, Kandaswamy Wellarayanam, 73, walked 6km (3.7 miles) from a camp to a polling centre after buses meant to transport displaced voters failed to arrive.One voter, Kandaswamy Wellarayanam, 73, walked 6km (3.7 miles) from a camp to a polling centre after buses meant to transport displaced voters failed to arrive.
"We walked to vote because we felt it was important after the war," he told AFP news agency."We walked to vote because we felt it was important after the war," he told AFP news agency.
"I was keen to have a say in who should be our next president."I was keen to have a say in who should be our next president.
"We have not had free food and rations for two months and depend on odd jobs to survive.""We have not had free food and rations for two months and depend on odd jobs to survive."
Security is tight amid fears of violence and more than 68,000 police are being deployed to protect the polling stations.Security is tight amid fears of violence and more than 68,000 police are being deployed to protect the polling stations.
Among the early voters was President Rajapaksa.Among the early voters was President Rajapaksa.
"Today's victory will be remarkable. It's been evident with voters across the nation participating towards our victory," news agency Reuters quoted Mr Rajapaksa as saying after voting in Medamulana, his rural district on the southern coast."Today's victory will be remarkable. It's been evident with voters across the nation participating towards our victory," news agency Reuters quoted Mr Rajapaksa as saying after voting in Medamulana, his rural district on the southern coast.
"We expect a peaceful election and are getting ready to enjoy a better tomorrow.""We expect a peaceful election and are getting ready to enjoy a better tomorrow."
Most voters say they are voting for peace and an improved economy.Most voters say they are voting for peace and an improved economy.
"What I expect in the future is that in the same way peace was established, the cost of living will be brought down and the unemployment problem will be solved," Reuters quoted security guard Jayantha Perera as saying."What I expect in the future is that in the same way peace was established, the cost of living will be brought down and the unemployment problem will be solved," Reuters quoted security guard Jayantha Perera as saying.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa casts his votePresident Mahinda Rajapaksa casts his vote
Both President Rajapaksa and Gen Fonseka have promised voters costly subsidies and public sector pay rises.Both President Rajapaksa and Gen Fonseka have promised voters costly subsidies and public sector pay rises.
However, economists say this will make it hard for the country to meet cost-cutting obligations imposed under the terms of a $2.6bn (£1.6bn) International Monetary Fund loan.However, economists say this will make it hard for the country to meet cost-cutting obligations imposed under the terms of a $2.6bn (£1.6bn) International Monetary Fund loan.
Hours before the polling booths opened at dawn, people in Jaffna reported hearing up to four blasts.Hours before the polling booths opened at dawn, people in Jaffna reported hearing up to four blasts.
Acrimonious campaignAcrimonious campaign
A monitoring group said two bombs were thrown at a ruling party organiser while another account said an opposition MP's home and two polling booths were targeted.A monitoring group said two bombs were thrown at a ruling party organiser while another account said an opposition MP's home and two polling booths were targeted.
Police in Jaffna told the BBC they had no information of any trouble.Police in Jaffna told the BBC they had no information of any trouble.
We had in this election I think a scale of abuse of state resources which had not been registered before Dr Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu, Centre for Monitoring Election Violence In pictures: Sri Lanka votes Profile: Mahinda Rajapaksa Profile: Gen Sarath Fonseka We had in this election I think a scale of abuse of state resources which had not been registered before Dr Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu, Centre for Monitoring Election Violence In pictures: Sri Lanka votes Profile: Mahinda Rajapaksa Profile: Gen Sarath Fonseka
The two-month-long campaign, often marked by acrimony, officially closed on Saturday.The two-month-long campaign, often marked by acrimony, officially closed on Saturday.
Election clashes have so far left four dead and hundreds wounded.Election clashes have so far left four dead and hundreds wounded.
"We had in this election I think a scale of abuse of state resources which had not been registered before," news agency Reuters quoted Dr Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu, co-convenor of the Centre for Monitoring Election Violence, as saying."We had in this election I think a scale of abuse of state resources which had not been registered before," news agency Reuters quoted Dr Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu, co-convenor of the Centre for Monitoring Election Violence, as saying.
But he added: "If enough Sri Lankan citizens go in large numbers as we have always done in the past and for over six decades... resisting the violence and the intimidation... then we may well get a result that at the end of the day reflects overall the wishes of the people of this country."But he added: "If enough Sri Lankan citizens go in large numbers as we have always done in the past and for over six decades... resisting the violence and the intimidation... then we may well get a result that at the end of the day reflects overall the wishes of the people of this country."
On Sunday, President Rajapaksa suffered a blow when ex-President Chandrika Kumaratunga vowed to back his rival.On Sunday, President Rajapaksa suffered a blow when ex-President Chandrika Kumaratunga vowed to back his rival.
Mrs Kumaratunga, a senior member of Mr Rajapaksa's Sri Lanka Freedom Party, said she was deeply concerned about violence, intimidation and corruption in the fiercely-contested poll.Mrs Kumaratunga, a senior member of Mr Rajapaksa's Sri Lanka Freedom Party, said she was deeply concerned about violence, intimidation and corruption in the fiercely-contested poll.
President Rajapaksa and Gen Fonseka were closely associated with the government's defeat of the Tamil Tigers last May but the pair fell out bitterly soon after.President Rajapaksa and Gen Fonseka were closely associated with the government's defeat of the Tamil Tigers last May but the pair fell out bitterly soon after.
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