News
No major incidents in Monaragala and Badulla
In the Monaragala District in the Uva Province, voting in the towns was slow compared with the rural areas.
Pic by Sanjeewa Bandara.
Turnout until 1p.m. was 45 percent according to Priyani Padmakulasuriya Moneragala’s District Secretray said.
Major incidents had not been reported. But there had been instances of voters being transported to polling booths by candidates, canvassing around polling booths, and display of party symbols near booths. There were no arrests.
In Thanamalwila, police headquarters, reported two incidents. One candidate was arrested while distributing election leaflets and in the other incident, voters were being transported to a polling centre.
In a polling booth at Detagamuwa, Kataragama, 99 percent of the voters had cast their ballots by 1:00 pm. The booth had 1,510 registered voters.
In the adjoining Badulla District, estate sector workers were seen lining up early because they had leave only for half a day.
The UNP lawmaker for the Badulla District, Aravinda Kumar, said more estate sector workers began arriving by noon and a high turnout was expected.
Executive director of People’s Action For Free and Fair Elections, Rohana Hettiarachchi, said there were reports of some illegal ballet papers in Haputale. He said the voter interest appeared to be low.
Rajith Keerthi Tennakoon, executive director of the Campaign for Free and Fair Elections, said the Badulla and Monaragala were calm and without serious incidents.