Rajapaksa promises fair elections

Our intelligence says between 600 and 800 Army deserters headed by a former Major General are roaming around to create poll-related problems, he told a press conference in Colombo,adding that these fugitives had also collected unauthorised arms.

Meanwhile,Fonseka alleged that Sri Lankas ruling party had plans to to instigate violence to keep people from casting their votes. The violence will reduce voter attendance,then the rigging will take place, he said.

A government spokesman,Keheliya Rambukwella,denied the Oppositions allegations.

Tuesdays election,pitting 64-year-old Rajapaksa against former Army Chief Sarath Fonseka 59,is the first presidential election since the defeat of the Tamil Tigers. Amid fears of violence and vote-rigging,Rajapaksa vowed to protect the democratic principles and ensure free and fair polls.

Having restored peace to the country after 30 years of terrorism,the Government of Sri Lanka is wholly committed to a free and democratic election in every part of the country, a Sri Lankan Presidential Secretariat statement said.

The government calls for a peaceful election and stands committed to taking whatever steps deemed necessary to ensure the same, the statement said.

Hours after the campaigning ended on Saturday night,Rajapaksa suffered a defection when the matriarch of the ruling party and ex-President Chandrika Kumaratunga extended her support to Fonseka.

Rajapaksa has called the elections two years ahead of schedule in an apparent bid to cash in on the victory over the Tamil Tiger rebels,for which both he and Fonseka have claimed credit. As many as 2.5 lakh public servants have been deployed for election duties.

Commissioner of Elections Dayananda Disshnayake,meanwhile,said the voters can cast their ballots even without official poll cards by proving their identity.

Disshnayake said the counting of votes will begin on Tuesday night and the final result may be issued by Wednesday morning.