COLOMBO: The two main contenders for Sri Lanka’s presidency, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse and Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, on Friday filed nomination papers for the Nov 17 elections.

Eleven other presidential candidates also submitted their nominations.

All those registered on Friday belong to the Sinhalese majority as the Muslim and Tamil candidates pulled out from the race on Thursday.

The candidate representing the Muslim National Alliance (MNA) withdrew his application in a-last minute decision, following an announcement by the party that it would support the United National Party candidate, Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Hafiz Nazeer Ahamed described his withdrawal as a ‘carefully thought decision’.