News
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Tired
of polls or tired of politicians?
Yesterday's provincial election was largely peaceful and fair with only a few minor incidents reported. But an equally significant feature was a sharp decline in voter turnout and enthusiasm, with residents and observers attributing it largely to public disappointment over the political infighting for power and posts after the April 2 general election. Returning Officer Jayantha Bulumulla said according to reports she had received the voter turnout has gone down when compared to this months general elections. "At the last general elections we were told that 200 to 300 people were lining up at polling booths in the province. But today the scene is different," she said. She said according to reports yesterday's election in the Wayamba Province - where some of the worst violence and impersonation had been seen in the previous election - was calm and fair with few, if any incidents of violence or rigging being reported. A PAFFREL election monitor told The Sunday Times that voter turnout by noon yesterday had not exceeded twenty five percent as many people seemed to have lost interest in the provincial election despite the acrimonious battle for power and posts in parliament and the government. He said the election was conducted peacefully with the police being strict and fair while most party supporters also acted with restraint. Observers in the Wayamba said they believed the low voter turnout was linked to a general sense of disappointment over the manner in which political leaders have been fighting for power and posts after the April 2 general elections. Summing up the feeling voter Anthony Benjamin from Mawathagama said,"We hoped our major problems would be addressed by the new government but our problems are getting worse while they are fighting for portfolios." Another reason for the generally peaceful atmosphere and the drop in enthusiasm was the limited time available for campaigning."We had only a little time for the election. We had to support candidates who contested for the general election and there were also the New Year holidays. These factors compelled us to limit our campaign UPFA candidate W.D.H. Chandraratne said. However some candidates have found a novel way of circumventing police orders on propaganda campaigns. They have printed small leaflets with their names and numbers and strewn them near polling booths. Two elections within a month appeared to be too much for most people as seen in some Kurunegala district polling booths where there were more officials than voters. Police said no major incidents were reported and they were strict even with minor cases. SSP Mahinda Hettiarachi and ASP Vas Goonawardena who were in charge of security said the election was largely peaceful with police maintaining a tight security especially in Mawathagama which had been the hotbed of violence in the previous provincial election. Observers said that while enthusiasm in urban areas was relatively low, people in villages of Kurunegala disrtricts turned out in larger numbers with a little more enthusiasm. Meanwhile our Puttalam correspondent said the turnout in the Puttalam district was about 30 per cent until last afternoon. He said supporters of candidates were seen outside the polling booths, doing last minute canvassing. Although no major incidents were reported from the Puttalam district on polling day, an unidentified group had set fire and destroyed a furniture shop in Anamaduwa belonging to a UNF supporter. The
forgotten polling booth But by last evening none of the voters had cast their ballots contrary to the last Parliamentary elections where almost all voters had cast their ballots. The difference was reportedly that during the last polls a candidate interested in the votes of these villagers had provided them transport to the booth and back. But this time there were no such candidates. The District Returning Officer, H.M. Herath told The Sunday Times they would consider moving this polling booth closer to the village at future elections. |
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