Sri Lanka election campaign wraps up

Campaigning has come to an end ahead of Sri Lanka's presidential election. The two main candidates have held final rallies, and are both confident of winning Tuesday's poll.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa called the election two years in advance taking advantage of his popularity after ending the 30-year Tamil separatist war.

During his campaign the President promised to concentrate on developing the economy in a second six-year term.

Mahinda Rajapaksa, Sri Lanka's President, said, "After winning on the 26th in a peaceful election, we must take steps to establish democracy, not militarism in this country. Within that democracy we must unite."

A soldier watches a crowd of supporters as Sri Lanka's President Rajapaksa specks at a final political rally for his presidential campaign in Piliyandala January 23, 2010.REUTERS/Dinuka Liyanawatte