Local Polls: Average voter turnout

A lower voter turn out was witnessed with 55 per cent votes cast yesterday in the election to twenty local bodies. Police said a few minor incidents of violence were reported from election areas.

Voters in Colombo, Galle, Kalmunai, Gampaha, Gampola, Wattegama, Kattankudy, Akkaraipattu, Pottuvil, Seethawaka, Patha Hewaheta, Uda Palatha, Elpitiya, Koralepattu West, Eravur, Navithenveli, Addalachenai, Nintavur, Kobeigane and Balangoda went to poll to elect their representatives to the Urban Councils, Municipal Councils and Pradeshiya Sabhas.

Voting commenced at 7.00 a.m. yesterday and concluded at 4.00 p.m. Polling was slow from morning hours in many areas.

With much focus on Colombo for the Municipal Council poll, UPFA Mayoral candidate, Vasudeva Nanayakkara, United Socialist Alliance candidate, Dr. Wickremebahu Karunaratne and other independent candidates cast their votes early. Later, UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, Sirisena Cooray and Milinda Moragoda cast their votes at their respective centres.

The UNP is out of the Colombo contest with its nomination list rejected. But,it claims to contest through an independent list.

In Colombo there were no incidents reported and the situation remained calm. The Centre for Monitoring Election Violence reported that 33 incidents of election reported violence were received. Deputy Inspector General (Elections), Gamini Navaratne said that the offenders would be dealt with severely for breaching the law during election time.