In Sri Lanka, nomination for the upcoming Presidential polls on January 26th next year is scheduled for Thursday. The Department of Elections has announced arrangements for the receipt of nominations.We take a look at the political scenario ahead of the nomination date with our Colombo correspondent.With just over 12 hours left for filing of the nomination papers for the Presidential election to be filed, so far 18 candidates representing political parties and five independents have deposited the required money to the Elections office.However, the focus would be entirely on the sitting President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the former army Chief Sarath Fonseka , who is the common candidate of the major opposition parties.Little wonder, it is billed by political pundits as mother of all political battles in the 48 year old independent history of the island nation. The Department of Elections has announced that receipt of nominations will be accepted from 9.00 a.m. to 11.00 a.m. on Thursday.The drama is just beginning to unfold was evident when two prominent dissident MPs of the principal opposition party UNP crossed over today and pledged support to the President.. Much to amusement of observers both of them were immediately rewarded with ministerial positions in the present government.The former Chief justice of Sri Lanka Sarath Silva lent his weight behind the opposition candidate Sarath Fonseka and raised questions on the constitutional propriety of some of the recent actions of Mr. Rajapaksa.Most parties are aligned either with the ruling combine or the opposition nominee. But the pro- LTTE Tamil National Alliance is still sitting on the face more due to divisions due to within than any reason. The Alliance appears split three ways as one of its members has decided to contest the election as an independent candidate.