Enthusiastic 65% of voter turnout in a widely peaceful atmosphere
A peaceful atmosphere prevailed throughout the Southern Province during polling day for the Local Government (LG) Elections yesterday. Voter turnout got off to a slow start in the Galle, Matara and Hambantota districts, hovering around 20-25%, but picked up considerably later in the day, surpassing 50% by 1 pm, in all three districts.
In the Galle district, 796,076 registered voters are due to elect 419 representatives to 19 LG bodies. These include 1 Municipal Council (MC) (Galle), 2 Urban Councils (UC) (Hikkaduwa and Ambalangoda) and 16 Pradeshiya Sabhas (PS).
In contrast, only 244 representatives were elected to these LG bodies at the last LG election.
Interestingly, Galle district had the only LG body in the country in which an election was not held yesterday, consequent to a court order barring polls for the Elpitiya PS.
While polling in the district was peaceful, some incidents of election law violations were reported. In one incident outside a polling station in Thalpe, Habaraduwa, a candidate had allegedly canvassed for votes from voters making their way to the polling station. He had later left after police warned him he would be arrested if he continued to remain at the location.
In the Matara district, 644,800 registered voters will elect representatives to 17 LG bodies. These include 1 MC (Matara), 1 UC (Weligama) and 15 PSs.
There was much enthusi- asm among the 479,498 registered voters in the Hambantota district. Turnout seemed to be higher in rural areas, compared with the more urban ones.
There are 12 LG bodies up for grabs in the district, including 1 MC (Hambantota), 1 UC (Tangalle) and 10 PSs.
Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa cast his vote at the DA Rajapaksa Vidyalaya in Medamulana, around 9 am, while Minister Mahinda Amaraweera cast his vote at Angunukolapelassa Mahanaga Vidyalaya around 10.30 am.
While voting was largely peaceful, several incidents of election related violence was reported from the district. Two supporters of the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) had allegedly been assaulted by supporters of the United National Party (UNP) and the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP). A complaint had also been lodged that a female UPFA supporter had been assaulted and that her house too had been damaged on Friday (9) night.
Last morning, police also arrested a UNP organiser in Beragama, for allegedly distributing gift vouchers to households in the area.
District Secretary W.H. Karunaratne noted that officials had obtained assistance from the Department of Wildlife Conservation (DWC) for the protection of voters and officers at certain polling stations vulnerable to threats from wild elephants. Roads leading to some counting centres are also being protected by DWC officers, to ensure that ballot boxes can be transported in the evening without any incident.