Sri Lanka announces early presidential poll in January

Mahinda Rajapaksa, President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, addresses the 69th United Nations General Assembly at the U.N. headquarters in New York September 24, 2014. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson

COLOMBO (Reuters) - Sri Lanka will hold a presidential election in January, nearly two years ahead of schedule, the government's spokesman said on Monday, with Mahinda Rajapaksa expected to run for a third six-year term.

The announcement came amid signs Rajapaksa's popularity is fading after accusations that his party is abusing power.