Updated 0155 GMT
According to latest reports by AFP, Sri Lanka's incumbent president Mahinda Rajapaksa has conceded defeat in the presidential election to opposition candidate Maithripala Sirisena.
Reuters quoted an official at the president's office as saying,
"The president conceded defeat at a meeting with opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe and the new president will be sworn in this evening."
AFP reported Rajapaksa's press secretary as saying he had admitted defeat in the election, as votes continue to be counted across the island.
The BBC quoted a spokesperson as saying Rajapaksa would "ensure a smooth transition of power bowing to the wishes of the people".
With just under 4 million votes counted so far and several districts still awaited, the latest count shows opposition candidate Sirisena is leading with 51.51% of the vote to Rajapaksa's 47.17%.
Adaderana.lk published images of Rajapaksa reportedly leaving the meeting with Wickremesinghe at Temple Trees this morning in Colombo.
See also:
UPDATE: Presidential Election - Maithri leads as Rajapaksa closes gap (09 Jan 2015)
Tamils voted to ensure no fraud, not in belief things will change says TNA spokesperson (08 Jan 2015)
Police ban demonstrations for 7 days (08 Jan 2015)
Tamils vote in North-East amid grenade explosions (08 Jan 2015)
No faith election will bring about political change for us - Jaffna Uni Students' Union (07 Jan 2015)
'Sri Lanka's election could change everything... and nothing' – Callum Macrae (07 Jan 2015)
See our editorial: No choice
See our feature: Who is Maithripala Sirisena?