Over 15 million voters from 22 electoral districts to elect 225 MPs tomorrow
Over 15 million voters across 22 electoral districts will go to the polls tomorrow to elect 225 Members of Parliament (MPs) in the country’s 15th General election since 1947. The Colombo District will return the largest for a single district with 19 MPs, while Tricomalee will return the lowest number of 4 MPs.
Political parties and independent groups wound up their election campaigns on Friday, in keeping with the Election Commissioner’s directive to stop all cam- paigning 48 hours prior to the commencement of the poll.
A brief rundown of the 22 Electoral districts. Colombo - 19 MPs -1,586,598 registered voters -15 polling divisions namely: Colombo North, Colombo Central, Borella, Colombo East, Colombo West, Dehiwela, Ratmalana, Kolonnawa, Kotte, Kaduwela, Avissawella, Homagama, Maharagama, Kesbewa and Moratuwa. Gampaha – 18 MPs - 1,637,537 registered voters – 13 polling divisions namely: Wattala, Negombo, Katana, Divulapitiya, Mirigama, Minuwangoda, Attanagalla, Gampaha, Ja-ela, Mahara, Dompe, Biyagama and Kelaniya Katutara – 10 MPs - 897,349 registered voters – 8 polling divisions namely: Panadura, Kalutara, Bandaragama, Horana, Bulathsinhala, Matugama, Beruwela and Agalawatte. (Kandy) Mahanuwara – 10 MPs - 1,049,160 registered voters – 13 polling divisions namely: Galagedara, Harispattuwa, Patha-dumbara, Udadumbara, Teldeniya, Kundasale, Hewaheta, Senkadagala, Mahanuwara, Yatinuwara, Udunuwara, Gampola and Nawalapitiya. Matale – 5 MPs - 379,675 registered voters – 4 polling divisions namely: Dambulla, Laggala, Matale and Rattota. Nuwara Eliya – 8 MPs -534,150 registered voters – 4 polling divisions namely: Nuwara Eliya-Maskeliya, Walapane, Hanguranketa and Kotmale. Galle – 10 MPs -819, 666 registered voters – 10 polling divisions namely: Balapitiya, Ambalangoda, Karandeniya, Bentara-Elpitiya, Hiniduma, Baddegama, Ratgama, Galle, Akmeemana and Habaraduwa. Matara – 8 MPs - 623, 818 registered voters – 7 polling divisions namely: Deniyaya, Hakmana, Akuressa, Kamburupitiya, Devinuwara, Matara and Weligama. Hambantota – 7 MPs - 462, 911 registered voters - 4 polling divisions namely: Mulkirigala, Beliatta, Tangalle and Tissamaharama. Jaffna – 7 MPs - 529,239 registered voters – 11 polling divisions namely: Kayts, Vaddukkodai, Kankesanturai, Manipay, Kopay, Udupiddy, Point Pedro, Chavakachcheri, Nallur, Jaffna and Kilinochchi. Wanni – 6 MPs -253,058 registered voters – 3 polling divisions namely: Mannar, Vavuniya and Mullaitivu. Batticaloa – 5 MPs - 365,167 registered voters – 3 polling divisions namely: Kalkudah, Batticaloa and Padiruppu. Postal voting 9,842 applications. Digamadulla – 7 MPs - 465,757 registered voters – 4 polling divisions namely: Ampara, Sammanturai, Potuvil and Kalmunai. More than 20,000 voters eligible to cast postal votes. Trincomalee – 4 MPs -256,852 registered voters – 3 polling divisions namely: Seruwila, Trincomalee and Mutur. 11,451 applications for postal votes, of which 387 were rejected. Kurunegala – 15 MPs - 1,266,443 registered voters- 14 polling divisions namely: Galgamuwa, Nikaweratiya, Yapahuwa, Hiriyala, Wariyapola, Panduwasnuwara, Bingiriya, Katugampola, Kuliyapitiya, Dambadeniya, Polgahawela, Kurunegala, Mawathagama, and Dodangaslanda. Puttalam – 8 MPs - 553, 009 registered voters – 5 polling divisions namely: Puttalam, Anamaduwa, Chilaw, Nattandiya and Wennappuwa Anuradhapura – 9 MPs - 636,733 registered voters – 6 polling divisions namely: Horowupotana, Anuradhapura-east,Anuradhapura-west, Kalawewa, Mihintale and Kekirawa. Polonnaruwa - 5 MPs – 307,125 registered voters – 3 polling divisions namely: Minneriya, Medirigiriya and Polonnaruwa. Badulla - 8 MPs - 620,486 registered voters – 9 polling divisions namely: Mahiyangane, Wiyaluwa, Passara, Badulla, Hali-ela, Uva-paranagama, Welimada, Bandarawela and Haputale. Moneragala- 5 MPs - 339,797 registered voters – 3 polling divisions namely: Bibile, Moneragala and Wellawaya Ratnapura - 11 MPs - 810,082 registered voters – 8 polling divisions namely: Eheliyagoda, Ratnapura, Pelmadulla, Balangoda, Rakwana, Nivitigala, Kalawana and Kolonna. Kegalle - 9 MPs - 649,878 registered voters – 9 polling divisions namely: Dedigama, Galigamuwa, Kegalle, Rambukkana, Mawanella, Aranayake, Yatiyantota, Ruwanwella and Deraniyagala.