COLOMBO, Nov. 4 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's Elections Commission will set up 45,000 polling booths across the country for the presidential election which will be held on Nov. 16, the government information department said here Monday.

Officials from the Elections Commission said that during previous elections, only 35,000 polling booths had been set up islandwide, but this year, 10,000 additional booths would be added due to the two feet long ballot paper.

For the first time in Sri Lankan history, the ballot paper will be so long, due to a record breaking 35 candidates running for presidency, the Elections Commission said.

"Therefore 1 polling booth will be set up for every 400 voters in comparison to 1 booth being set up for every 800 voters in previous polls," officials said.

The elections will be held about two months before the incumbent government's term ends.