Sri Lanka to hold presidential elections two years ahead of schedule

Sri Lanka has reportedly decided to hold early presidential elections in January, about two years ahead of schedule, the government's information ministry said.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa is expected to seek a third term in office at the upcoming elections, reported the BBC.

Rajapaksa won by a huge margin in 2010 and is currently serving a six-year term. He was first voted as the President in 2005 when Sri Lanka was in the middle of a shaky ceasefire agreement with the Tamil Tiger rebels.

Sri Lankan MPs voted in September 2010 to support constitutional amendments allowing Rajapaksa to seek an unlimited number of presidential terms.