Sri Lanka court extends President Rajapaksa's tenure

The president had asked for his second term to begin in November 2011, but this was not accepted by the court.

Mr Rajapaksa called elections two years early following the defeat last year of Tamil Tiger separatists.

The court decision means he could remain in office until 2016. He became president in November 2005.

In elections last week, the president won 57.8% of votes, compared with 40% for his main rival Gen Sarath Fonseka.

Gen Fonseka was army chief when troops defeated the separatists rebels but he and the president later fell out over who should take credit for winning the war.

"The Supreme Court says the new term begins on 19 November this year," an official in the president's office told the AFP news agency.

Correspondents say the court ruling is a boost for Mr Rajapaksa, even though he wanted his new term of office to start a year later.