Sri Lanka's prime minister has taken an early lead in the island’s closely fought presidential election, seen as a referendum on the peace process with Tamil Tiger rebels. According to incomplete and provisional results Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse, who campaigned on a promise to take a take hard line on dealing with the rebels, had 2.42 million votes by early Friday. Former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe had 2.27 million. Election officials said that voting in Thursday’s election was smooth in western and southern parts of the island and overall turnout was 75%. But in the north and east - territory controlled by the Tiger rebels - grenade attacks, roadblocks and fear kept many Tamils from voting.