Sri Lanka accepts 35 nominations for presidential polls

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ANKARA (AA) - The electoral body in Sri Lanka on Monday accepted the nominations for the upcoming presidential elections, local media reported.

Mahinda Deshapriya, chairman of the Election Commission, said that 35 nominations were submitted to the commission and all of them have been accepted, according to Colombo-based Daily Mirror.

“Two objections submitted to the elections commissions regarding the nominations [and] were rejected,” Deshapriya added.

Record 41 individuals had filled cash bonds for the election bid on Sunday. However, 35 of them submitted the nominations for elections.

The Buddhist-majority country will go for presidential polls for eighth time in its independent history on Nov. 16. The presidential election candidates include a Buddhist monk and a woman.

Incumbent President Maithripala Sirisena is not running for the office.

Nearly 16 million people, aged above 18, are eligible to elect their new president.