Residents Express Views as Low Turnout in Colombo

As Colombo residents headed to the polls to vote in the local government elections, voter mood was subdued. Unlike previous parliamentary and presidential elections, no lines were observed outside the polling stations. Colombo had the lowest voter turnout this election, with only 52% of registered voters taking to the polls.

Some voters were uninterested. “No point in hoping, because nothing we  hope for comes to pass,” said Chandrasena, aged 42. Despite his pessimism, he voted. 72 year old T. Selvarani also voted simply because “there was an election mood all around me, so I went.”
 

“I voted to make sure nobody steals my vote,” said another young voter, “I just felt it would be a missed opportunity not to.”

Even so, some voters expressed hope for better road maintenance and reduced prices of goods. “People are finding it difficult to live. You can barely feed a family of five with three thousand rupees. We thought of voting because you can only expect a party to do so much during a short period of time from being elected,” said a resident of Colombo 2. 
 

One resident claimed that he was not allowed to vote as his grama niladhari had not included his name in the electoral register, and another said he could not due to a minor spelling mistake in his voting card.
 

Times Online observed youth helping the elderly walk to the polling stations as mothers and fathers brought their newborn babies with them.

In Kompanna Vidiya some candidates sought votes for the third time. “I first asked for votes under the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress, then under the United National Party,” said M. I. M. Anas, a former councillor, “this time I am asking under SLMC again.” Mr. Anas said all communities have helped him and come together to vote in the local government elections. 
 

Many voters expressed unity despite ethnic and religious differences, stating that they are voting for whoever the candidate that represents them best. 
 

Meanwhile officers on election duty arrived with lunch packets for election officials serving in the polling stations. Police guarded the stations.
 

In Kompanna Vidiya, Times Online observed promotional papers with some party symbols--the dice, elephant, and tree--strewn outside polling stations.