UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) -- Citing a lack of time, the United Nations has denied a request by the Sri Lankan government to monitor the upcoming presidential elections, said a UN spokesperson here on Wednesday.

    "In light of the limited lead time available" and because UN protocol requires a mandate from the General Assembly or Security Council, "the UN informed the (elections) commissioner and the government of Sri Lanka that it could not provide observers," said Martin Nesirky, the spokesman for the UN secretary-general.

    On Jan. 26, incumbent President Mahinda Rajapaksa will run against 21 challengers. It will be the first since the government won a bloody 25-year conflict with Tamil Tiger separatists in May.

    Rajapaksa and former army chief Sarath Fonseka, who is also running for president, have been wooing Tamils for votes, according to local media reports. They have helped ease travel restrictions in Tamil areas while releasing tens of thousands of displaced civilians from UN-funded detention camps.

    Some 300,000 Tamils fled their homes in the country's north during the government's final offensive, in which more than 7,000 civilians were killed, according to UN reports.

    However, the majority of Tamils still languish outside the camps, waiting for the reconstruction process.

    Colombo has pledged that all Tamils will be allowed to return home by the end of January as well as a political process that will lead to reconciliation between the Tamil minority and Sinhalese majority.

    Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, UN Secretary-general Ban Ki-moon said he is still counting on the government to follow through on its commitment.

    "I hope they keep their promise," he said.