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            Sri Lankan President Seeks Third Term in Close Election

   by VOA News

   Millions of Sri Lankans are voting in an unexpectedly close election
   that pits President Mahinda Rajapaksa against one of his former allies.

   Rajapaksa, in office since 2005, called the election two years early
   with analysts predicting an easy win.

   Although his popularity has waned, Rajapaksa was confident that the
   perennially fractured opposition would fail to find a credible
   challenger.

   He did not anticipate the emergence of Mithripala Sirisena, who quit as
   health minister and crossed to the other side to become the
   opposition's candidate in November, triggering a flood of defections
   from the government.

   Casting his ballot in his constituency on Thursday, Rajapaksa said he
   was confident he would be given the leadership of the country for the
   third time.

   U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry spoke by phone with Rajapaksa on
   Wednesday ahead of the election.  A spokeswoman said Kerry urged the
   Sri Lankan government to "ensure the January 8th elections will be free
   from violence and intimidation and that the vote counting is carried
   out credibly and transparently."
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/sri-lankan-president-seeks-third-term
   -in-close-election/2590017.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/sri-lankan-president-seeks-third-term-in-close-election/2590017.html