WPC Elections 2009:
Serene voting prevails
Ananth PALAKIDNAR
UPFA on smooth cruise
Early results indicated the
United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) was heading towards
a comfortable victory in the Western Provincial polls. |
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. |