Ahead of Tuesday's Presidential elections, Sri Lankan government vowed to protect the democratic principles and assured free and fair polls. A statement released by the Presidential Secretariat in Colombo said, having restored peace to the country after 30 years of terrorism, the Government is wholly committed to a free and democratic election in every part of the country.Tuesday's election pitting incumbent Mahinda Rajapakse against former army chief General Sarath Fonseka is the first peacetime presidential vote since Tamil Tigers took up arms in 1972.Meanwhile, in a major setback to President Rajapaksa, the ruling coalition's matriarch Chandrika Kumaratunga today pledged support for Opposition candidate Fonseka. Kumaratunga is the senior most leader of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, the main constituent in the ruling coalition headed by Rajapaksa.In a related development, the opposition parties have alleged that President Rajapaksa is preparing to stage a coup to prevent peaceful transition of power, if he loses the historic polls. At a hurriedly convened news conference, they claimed that the President has deployed 15 Armoured Personnel Carrier and ordered the Air Force to take charge of the only international civilian airport in the country, in the event of his defeat.The government, on the other hand said the opposition is preparing the ground to justify the certain defeat of Fonseka. Campaigning for Tuesday's presidential election ended last night with both Fonseka and Rajapaksa expressing confidence about winning.