Polling to elect new President of Sri Lanka is underway across the country.

Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the former Defence Minister and brother of two-time former President Mahinda Rajapaksa,   and Sajith Premadasa of the ruling United National Party are the main contenders.

In total, record 35 candidates are contesting the presidential polls.

According to Sri Lankan Election Commission, 15.9 million nationals are eligible to vote for which 12,845 polling stations have been established in the country's 22 electoral districts.

NNR/Khokhar