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Torrential rain dampens Lankan election fervour

P Mohan Das in Colombo

Despite elaborate security arrangements for the provincial council elections in Sri Lanka, the turnout was less than 50 per cent as a heavy downpour lashed the island nation throughout the day today.

Officials said voting was by and large peaceful barring sporadic incidents of minor clashes.

No major incident was reported from any of the 12 districts forming the five provinces where elections were held to elect 263 members of the administrative councils.

But the main opposition United National Party complained to the Election Commission and the police about more than 60 incidents of violence and electoral malpractice.

The Centre for Monitoring Election Violence, an independent organisation engaged in checking electoral violations, said in a statement that one of its co-ordinators was attacked and chased away by activists of the ruling People's Alliance near a polling booth.

The security personnel of Karu Jayasurya, Colombo's mayor and UNP candidate for Wodow district, was hurt and one of the politician's vehicles was damaged when rival party workers attacked the motorcade near a polling both.

In another incident, one person, said to be a UNP supporter, was axed to death early this morning near Negomobo in Colombo district. But it was not known whether his murder had any political significance.

A total of 2,445 candidates, including 89 women, contested the 263 seats in the Western, Central, North-central, Uva and Sabaragamua provincial councils.

The ruling People's Alliance headed by President Chandrika Kumaratunga and the opposition UNP led by Ranil Wickeramasinghe are contesting to wrest power in these councils. Besides, there are other parties like the Janata Vimuktha Peramuna and independents in the fray.

Counting of votes began immediately after polling ended at 4pm and the first result was expected by midnight tonight.

UNI

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