Sri lankan election campaigns end

Campaigning for the upcoming Sri Lankan presidential election has ended with well attended rallies of the two major candidates.

The incumbent President Mahinda Rajapaksa took part in events in his native south and in the capital Colombo.

On the other side, the common opposition candidate, 59-year old Sarath Fonseka attended rallies in the southern port town of Galle, the west coast town of Negombo and in Colombo.

Fonseka used to be Rajapaksa's Army chief general. Both candidates were hailed for ending the war against the Tamil Tiger rebels. Some 55 international observers have started work on the presidential election to be held on Tuesday.

Former Sri Lankan military chief and presidential candidate of the common opposition Gen. Sarath Fonseka, center, looks on after a meeting with former Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunge, unseen, in Horagolla, outskirts of Colombo, Sri Lanka, Sunday, Jan. 24, 2010.(AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)