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Main candidates full of hopes; tight security for Saturday’s presidential election
The two major contenders at next Saturday’s presidential elections have voiced confidence they would emerge victorious.
Gotabaya Rajapaksa, contesting on the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna ticket, declared “I believe the voters will place their full confidence in me. I look forward to serving them as their President.”
New Democratic Front (NDF) candidate Sajith Premadasa said, “I have no doubt that voters will vote for me. It will preserve their right to change their leaders when they feel such change is needed.”
Their victory forecasts to the Sunday Times came as the 38-day-old campaign is due to end at midnight on Wednesday. The next two days, Thursday and Friday, will be blackout periods during which campaigning is prohibited by law.
Easily the most violence-free election barring a handful of incidents, polling is to be held in 12,845 booths where 15.9 million people will be eligible to vote. In the event, one of the candidates receives fifty percent plus one vote of the total vote, the results, according to the National Elections Commission, are likely to be declared by noon on Sunday. If it does not materialise, the announcement could be delayed by as many as two days, NEC officials said.
Other than the two formidable candidates, the votes to be polled by two others – National People’s Power candida Anura Kumara Dissanayake and National People’s Front candidate General Mahesh Senanayake – are expected to impact on how the duo will poll.
Unlike previous elections, polling has been extended by one hour from 7a.m. to 5 p.m.
Elections Commissioner General Saman Ratnayake told the Sunday Times that returning officers were yesterday given further instructions on the extended polling hours and related matters. He said two more briefing rounds were being planned.
More than 40,000 police officers are being deployed on polls duty, Police Elections Secretariat chief Sarath Peiris said. “The services of the armed forces will be obtained by Police to escort ballot boxes or cope with other exigencies,” the DIG told the Sunday Times.
Mr. Rajapaksa’s campaign has centered on priority for national security. He charges that the Government has not given priority to this subject though it had prior information on the April 21 attacks.
Mr. Premadasa declared, “I will ensure the right people are in the right positions to run the economy, ensure national security and manage our foreign relations. Even as president, I will continue to walk among the people. Without them, I am nothing.”