Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Monday decided to hold Presidential elections in
January next year, nearly two years ahead of schedule, amid speculation that he will be challenged by the Army General who successfully led the last phase of the war against LTTE.

The decision to hold Presidential elections in mid-January was taken at a meeting of the ruling United People's Freedom Alliance Party leaders at the President's residence here.

Rajapaksa's decision is seen as a move to cash in on the victory against the LTTE, which held one-third of Sri Lanka's land under its control when he took over as President in 2005, by turning the polls as a referendum on the military success.

"This morning the president met with all party leaders (of the ruling coalition) and decided that the Presidential election would be held early next year," Media Minister Anura Yapa told reporters.

The Commissioner of Elections is expected to announce the date of the poll soon, officials said.
However, political experts feel the President may not have a cake walk this time as Gen. Sarath Fonseka, who resigned as Chief of Defence Staff early this month following a spat with Rajapaksa, may contest the polls as the common candidate for the Opposition.

Fonseka is widely credited for the victory against the LTTE in May this year.