COLOMBO, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- A record number of 35 candidates have handed in their nominations to contest in Sri Lanka's presidential elections which will be held on Nov. 16, the Elections Commission announced here Monday.

The handing-in nominations for the polls concluded here Monday at 11:30 a.m. local time, and the Elections Commission said that although 41 candidates had paid their deposit fees to the commission last week, 35 handed in their nominations.

The candidates included Sajith Premadasa who is the presidential candidate of the ruling United National Front, Gotabaya Rajapaksa who is the presidential candidate of the main opposition, the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna, and Anura Kumara Dissanayaka, from the minority Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna.

Sajith Premadasa is the deputy leader of the United National Party, which is the largest party in the ruling United National Front Alliance, while Gotabaya Rajapaksa is the brother of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and he served as the defense secretary in the previous government.

Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya later met all 35 candidates who handed in their nominations and urged them and their supporters to abide by the election law in order to ensure a free and fair poll.

Sri Lanka's presidential polls, which will be held next month, is set about two months before the incumbent government's term ends.