2 days to go,Fonseka gets Kumaratunga on his side

Kumaratunga is the senior most leader of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP),the main constituent in the ruling coalition headed by Rajapaksa. The prevailing violence and the breakdown in law and order poses a serious challenge to democracy,democratic institutions and values,as well as all the basic freedoms we cherish and have protected with great sacrifice over the centuries, 64-year-old Kumaratunga said. I know of no better system of government than that founded and formed on democracy and freedom, she said. There are over 14 million voters in Sri Lanka.

Meanwhile,law enforcement agencies deployed over 68,000 policemen and warned against public gatherings near polling centres. Senior DIG of the police elections unit Gamini Navaratna said there are no immediate plans to have a police curfew during the elections. Additional security arrangements have been put in place in the north and eastern provinces,Inspector General of Police Mahinda Balasuriya told reporters.

The campaigning for the elections ended midnight on Thursday. Both the candidates in the first major election in the post-Tigers era,have asserted that the aspirations of the minority Tamil and Muslims will be foremost in their mind while taking policy decisions in case they win the polls.

During a public meeting,64-year-old Rajapaksa said that people living in the North and the East need a safe and secure place to live freely. On his part,59-year-old Fonseka ended the campaign charging the government with attempting to rig the mandate.