SRI LANKANS took to the ballot box yesterday for parliamentary elections that will decide the political future of former president Mahinda Rajapaksa who is on the comeback trail.

He was unseated in a shocking election defeat on January 8 after serving as president for nine years but is now running for prime minister.

Many of his family and friends, who were once all-powerful controllers of the island, now face investigations or lawsuits for corruption, misuse of power and even murder.

Polls closed late yesterday afternoon and the first results were not expected until after midnight. Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya said the election was conducted peacefully and fairly. The former president was quietly confident about his victory chances, asking people “to celebrate our victory peacefully.”

Mr Rajapaksa was hailed a warrior king for defeating the Tamil Tiger separatists but also accused of widespread human rights abuses and suppressing freedoms.