Polling in Sri Lanka to chose the nation's seventh president began here this morning amidst tight security.
Over 65,000 armed police personnel have been deployed for the polls.
According to reports, the Election Commission is giving top priority to the conduct of polls in the Tamil majority Northern Province, where apprehensions have been expressed by the opposition that the government may use the army to intimidate voters.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who is seeking a mandate for the third term, is being challenged by his former Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena.
There are 17 other candidates also in the fray.
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