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Puthukkudiyiruppu polls for first time in 40 years; record turnout in north
It was a milestone for the people of Puthukkudiyiruppu in Mullaitivu in the Northern Province. Voters polled yesterday for the first time in four decades in a local council election.
North Mannar Pic by Lambert
Following an election petition filed against the holding of elections in Puthukkudiyiruppu , on the basis that it was unfair to hold elections while the displaced people had not been re-settled, the local elections in the area had been on hold for the past 40 years.
The petitioners urged the Election Commissioner to refrain from holding elections in the Puthukkudiyiruppu and Maritime Pattthu Pradeshiya Sabhas.
However, yesterday the people had shown much enthusiasm in voting. Mullaitivu District Secretary Kethisweran Rupawathie said around 65 percent people had cast their votes by yesterday afternoon. “The election was peaceful and there was no violence reported in the district,” she said.
Meanwhile, in the Kilinochchi district, more than 50 percent turned up for voting. Jaffna district Parliamentarian Sivagnanam Shritharan said that voters had shown more interest compared to the past elections. Mostly the resettled people turned up in groups at polling booths.
Jaffna voters also showed their eagerness and turned up in large numbers. The northern islands reported a turnout of around 65 percent, while in other areas it was 55 percent by noon yesterday.
District Secretary, N. Vedhenayagan said the voting was peaceful and the voting trend showed more interest by young people. Many first time voters were seen lining up at the polling booths. Also people displaced from high security zone in the peninsula have shown a keenness in participating in the election.
The Vavuniya and Mannar districts also recorded brisk polling with a record high of 60 percent, District Secretariat officials said.