Sri Lanka's incumbent President Mahinda Rajapaksa has conceded defeat in the country's presidential election.
斯里兰卡现任总统马欣达·拉贾帕克萨承认自己在大选中失利。
A handout image released by the Sri Lankan President Media Division shows President and candidate Mahinda Rajapaksa casting his vote in the seventh Presidential Election in Hambantota (247 kms south from Colombo), Sri Lanka, 08 January 2015.
The president's office has released a statement, saying Rajapaksa would "ensure a smooth transition of power bowing to the wishes of the people".
Local media says the president conceded his defeat at a meeting with opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe as vote counting showed the opposition challenger Mithripala Sirisena was leading Thursday's poll.
Rajapaksa has dominated politics for a decade, but faced an unexpected challenge from his health minister Sirisena .
The incumbent, who is credited with ending the country's decades-long civil war in 2009, called snap polls in November seeking an unprecedented third term.
He has been dogged in recent years by accusations of failing to bring about national reconciliation, and of corruption as well.
Official results of the election will be released later on Friday.