Sri Lankan presidential election started Thursday morning as 13.3 million men and women began to cast their ballots to choose their new president from 13 contenders.

A grand of 13,327,160 people aged over 18 are eligible to vote on Thursday during a nine-hour polling period from 7:00 AM (01:00GMT) to 4:00 PM (10:00 GMT).

The election is staging at 10,486 polling stations island wide including 233 cluster polling stations set up in the government controlled areas for the voters residing in the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam rebel controlled areas.

Among the 13 candidates, Sri Lanka's main opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and Sri Lankan Prime Minister and the ruling party's candidate Mahinda Rajapakse are two of front runners.

An independent poll survey showed that cost of living and the peace process with Tamil Tigers were the two main issues in the election.

A neck and neck campaign race and fine weather are expected to have more voters to the election booths.

(Xinhua News Agency November 17, 2005)