Anuradhapura District:

Though a presidential election is in full swing in several parts of the country, in the Anuradhapura district, the interest, so far, has been markedly lower than in previous elections. The SLPP's inaugural campaign rally was held in Anuradhapura on October 9. The rally drew a large number of supporters from the district and elsewhere in the country. There have been a few major campaign rallies in the district since then. Several campaign rallies featuring NDF candidate Sajith Premadasa were held elsewhere in the district.

The Anuradhapura district is also a predominantly paddy cultivation region. Farmers here are also busy preparing their fields for the next season and show little involvement in political activity, but their interest in casting their vote is high.

Another chief concern among voters is as to which of the two main candidates would be able to ensure security of the region as many of them had experienced the consequences of the 26-year-old separatist war.

The district also has a large number of young and new voters, whose votes can be considered as floating votes.

The two main candidates have tried to outdo each other in terms of their promises to farmers. However, the farmers will have to wait till the next cultivation season to benefit from free fertilizer as fertilizer for this season has already been issued.

One voter said a running joke among the farmers here is that they will win whoever comes to power as they have all promised to provide free fertilizer to farmers.