The two main candidates are both closely associated with [br] [originaltext]

Campaigning has ended before Tuesday’s presidential election in Sri Lanka, the first since the end of the Civil War last year. (3) The two main candidates, Preisdent Mahinda Rajapaksa and the former Head of the Army Gen Sarath Fonseka are both closely associated with the defeat of the Tamil Tiger rebels. Charles Haviland was at the president’s final rally in Colombo. (4) As always he spoke of last year’s war victory against the Tamil Tigers and the need to fight corruption. With music and fireworks, the president’s team says they are already celebrating certain victory. His rival Sarath Fonseka has other ideas. (5) At the end of this bitter and personalized campaign, he accused the president’s team of planning violence and vote rigging on election day.