1st Ld-Writethru: Sri Lanka starts presidential polling

Fifteen million voters in Sri Lanka head to the polls on Thursday to elect the country's next president in what has been the closest fought race in a decade.

The two main contenders include incumbent President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who is seeking an unprecedented third term in power, and New Democratic Front (NDF) candidate Maithripala Sirisena, though 17 others are also in the fray.

Long lines of voters were observed as polling stations were opened.

In November, Minister Maithripala Sirisena crossed over as the opposition's presidential candidate, throwing the race wide open. Sirisena has promised to promote good governance and trim the powers of the executive presidency.

The most crucial element in the opposition campaign has been the promise of long delayed devolution for the Tamil community, who have been seeking stronger administrative powers in the northern part of the country.

"To ensure a fair poll, I need support. Journalists, police and election monitors they must all cooperate I am certain they will," said Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya told reporters ahead of the vote.

His department will oversee 12,341 polling stations around the island. Over 71,000 police and 30,000 election monitors have also been deployed to ensure a peaceful poll.

"I will have no hesitation in canceling the poll at any polling station if there is a threat or intimidation of voters or polling officials," Deshapriya warned after campaigning saw a significant surge of violence in the last few days including one dead in a shootout.

Results are expected to be announced early on Friday. Endi