News
Election day: Recalling all night family get-togethers and excitement as results came rolling in
View(s):By Tharushi Weerasinghe
As divisive as politics and election times can be, many Sri Lankans have, over the years, turned election days into a tradition of family get-togethers and celebrations.
“My entire family lives next to each other, so once everyone votes, we gather at my aunt’s house the same evening,” a 28-year-old retail worker from Pelawatte told the Sunday Times. He recalled that it was always an exciting tradition growing up because the families would have a potluck dinner, after which the adults would settle down in front of TV and debate politics while he got to play with his cousins. “There is an air of excitement always, and then growing up and getting ‘promoted’ to the political discourse in front of the TV also felt like such a rite of passage at the time,” he said.
A 35-year-old mother from Gampaha also has similar fond memories of her childhood home, which was always “loud and lively” during elections. “We got to stay up all night and play while our parents were engrossed in the election results.”
A family in Colombo reacts to election results at the last presidential election in November 2019. REUTERS file pic
“As an adult, I enjoyed throwing small election parties!” she said, noting that it was a chance to celebrate democracy, gather with family, and have fun with cousins. Her traditions have changed since starting her own family. She says that election days have been spent discussing candidates and their policies with her husband and explaining to her son in simpler terms – “so he understands why it’s so important.”
For others, this election, in particular, has been about making new traditions. Buthmee Fernando is a 22-year-old International Relations graduate who is in Japan, away from home, for an election for the first time. She is hosting a watch party for the election results for all her friends—Sri Lankans and non-Sri Lankans—who are interested in the election. “It was a tradition in my family back home even though everyone had such opposite political ideologies. I want to start my own tradition as a new expat,” Buthmee told the Sunday Times. She added that it was the first time a lot of her friends were also away from home for elections. “I thought it would be fun and eye-opening when students from different backgrounds come together to watch a very important election together as Sri Lankans.”
Locally, however, the Election Commission announced that large gatherings of people are not permitted. “We request voters to stay at home after voting and avoid crowding around polling booths or other public spaces,” Election Commission Chairman R.M.A.L. Ratnayake told the press on Thursday.
He noted that putting up large screens or TVs in public spaces for people to gather during the vote count was also prohibited. Meeting in groups during results announcements to play with fireworks or release hot air lanterns into the sky is also prohibited by law. “We have instructed law enforcement to disperse these crowds and arrest those engaged in these activities of unlawful gatherings.”
The best way to say that you found the home of your dreams is by finding it on Hitad.lk. We have listings for apartments for sale or rent in Sri Lanka, no matter what locale you're looking for! Whether you live in Colombo, Galle, Kandy, Matara, Jaffna and more - we've got them all!