Polls close in Sri Lanka's presidential election: AFP

Polls close in Sri Lanka's presidential election: AFP

Polls closed in Sri Lanka's presidential  election on Saturday, AFP journalists saw, ending the island nation's first  vote since an unprecedented economic crisis two years ago.

Voting booths closed at 4:00 pm (1030 GMT), with President Ranil  Wickremesinghe facing an uphill battle to retain office after implementing  unpopular austerity measures.