Colombo:The results of Sri Lanka's presidential election will be announced on Sunday as counting of votes is underway in an election that was marred by incidents of violence that left several people injured.
The winning candidate must secure over 50% of the votes before being declared president.
According to the local media, Sri Lanka's former wartime defence secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa took an early lead in a fiercely fought presidential election conducted under high security seven months after deadly Islamist attacks.
Rajapaksa, the main opposition candidate, was leading with 52.87 percent while housing minister Sajith Premadasa had 39.67 percent out of half a million votes counted.
While according to the media report, Sri Lanka's Housing and Cultural Affairs Minister Sajith Premadasa took an early lead in a fiercely fought presidential election. Premadasa, belonging to the United National Party (UNP) or the main ruling party in the country, was leading with 50.52 percent votes, while former wartime defence secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa had 41.97 percent out of half a million votes counted.
Read more:Vote counting begins in Lanka polls