WPC Elections 2009:

Serene voting prevails

Ananth PALAKIDNAR
 

Sixty percent voting has been reported at the Western Provincial elections amidst tight security measures at 2,769 polling booths in the districts of Colombo, Gampaha and Kalutara districts yesterday. The polling began at 7 a.m. and ended at 4 p.m. without any untoward incidents according to Department of Elections. According to Election officials the voters thronged the polling booths with greater enthusiasm and were very cooperative in the booths in conducting a free and fair poll. A strict check on the identity of the voter was ensured.

The Department had assigned 12,000 officials and the 17,000 Police personnel for election duties. Government Agent of Gampaha, P.A.Abeysekera informed that 60% voting was reported from his district. Kalutara GA reported 65% with Colombo 53%.

Special bus services were also arranged for the convenience of voters in all three districts. Unlike the previous polls the Commissioner of Elections had strictly prohibited the media personnel from entering the polling booths to take pictures or for reporting news. To elect 102 councillors for the Western Province, a total of 2,378 candidates from 19 political parties and 23 independent groups are in the fray. 319 counting centres were also set up. The Police spokesman SSP Ranjith Gunesekera said that the voting for the fifth Western Provincial Council polls was incident-free with a few complaints of minor incidents.