An estimated 55 per cent voters cast their ballots at yesterday’s elections to the Sabaragamuwa, Eastern and North Central Provincial Councils in what Police described as an election free of major violence. Polling was largely peaceful though election monitoring groups reported they had received a few complaints on election law violations including acts of intimidation [...]

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Moderate turnout; PC polls relatively peaceful

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An estimated 55 per cent voters cast their ballots at yesterday’s elections to the Sabaragamuwa, Eastern and North Central Provincial Councils in what Police described as an election free of major violence.

Polling was largely peaceful though election monitoring groups reported they had received a few complaints on election law violations including acts of intimidation and misuse of state resources. Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya told the Sunday Times no serious incidents were reported on the day of the elections. “There have been minor incidents, but nothing to the extent that could have an impact on the election results,” he said.

The commissioner said 117 complaints regarding election offences were received but only four of them required further investigations.

The highest number of 26 complaints was received from the Ratnapura district followed by 19 from Ampara district, 17 from Anuradhapura district, 16 from Polonnaruwa district, 14 from Batticaloa, 13 from Kegalle and 12 from Trincomalee.

In the Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa districts, voter turnout was lower than expected with many of the drought hit farmers deciding to boycott the poll. K.M. Jayatissa who heads a farmer society in Polonnaruwa, said many of the farmers who were deprived of water for cultivation had decided to keep away from voting. He said six members of his family also did not vote.

“We have been seriously affected by the drought. We have had to pawn jewellery to survive. The President came just before the elections to meet us but that is not enough to ease our burden,” he said.

As polls closed at 4.p.m., the turnout in the Ampara (Digamadulla) district was 58 per cent, Batticaloa district 60 per cent, Trincomalee district 62 per cent, Anuradhapura District 53 per cent, Polonnaruwa district 50 per cent, Kegalle district 56 per cent and Ratnapura district 52 per cent.

The three councils were dissolved by President Mahinda Rajapaksa in June this year, one year before their five year term ended.




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