Sri Lanka Unrest

A supporter of President Mahinda Rajapakse cheers as the President arrives at the first political rally for his presidential campaign, in Anuradhapura, December 18, 2009. Sri Lanka's election commissioner on Thursday accepted a record 22 nominations for the January presidential poll, in which economic policies, and not war strategy, are expected to dominate the campaign. The candidates for the Jan. 26 poll include incumbent President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his former army chief, Gen. Sarath Fonseka, who led the military to victory over Tamil rebels after a 25-year civil war.