COLOMBO - The Sri Lankan Elections Department on Monday announced that 19 candidates including incumbent President Mahinda Rajapaksa will be contesting the presidential election in January next year.
All 19 candidates, including Rajapaksa's main rival and common opposition candidate Maithripala Sirisena, handed over their nomination papers to the Elections Commissioner.
Among the candidates contesting the election on Jan 8 are 17 candidates from recognized political parties and two independent groups.
Two objections had been filed after the time allocated to accept nomination papers closed on Monday morning.
Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya said that one objection was against President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the other against Maithripala Sirisena.
However, he said after reviewing the objections, using the powers vested in him as the Elections Commissioner, he rejected the two objections.
Deshapriya called for a violence-free election and also dismissed allegations directed at him and the Commission.
The commissioner had been accused of not being completely independent in his work but he rejected the allegation.
He also urged the local media to ensure that equal space and time is given to all the candidates ahead of election day.
The commissioner also noted that government employees and resources should not be used for election work as it is a violation of election laws.
He said that Commonwealth and Asian election monitors are among those invited to monitor the presidential election.
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