Brisk and peaceful polling

by Manjula Fernando

Brisk polling was reported from most areas of the country, as voters turned up at 10,486 polling stations to elect their next Executive President yesterday.

According to polls monitors, the polling was largely peaceful except for several serious incidents in Batticaloa and some minor incidents elsewhere. The Elections Department sources said that nearly 75 per cent of the registered 13.3 million voters had turned up to vote during the voting period 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Some districts recorded a 80 per cent turnout.

The turnout was "about 75 per cent," Elections' Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake said, adding that polling in the North-East had been "very low". The overall turnout in the 1999 presidential election was 73.3 per cent.

Cluster polling booths witnessed a very low turnout as voters in LTTE controlled areas kept away in line with the LTTE's call to disregard the poll despite the provision of transport facilities. Government-controlled areas of the North-East also witnessed a lower turnout.

Fair weather prevailed over most parts of the island after several days of rain, helping to boost the voter turnout. Long queues were seen outside polling stations from early morning. Thirteen candidates are contesting the country's fifth Presidential Election.

The two main candidates are Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse (United People's Freedom Alliance) and Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe (United National Party). They began campaigning soon after the nominations day was announced. The gruelling campaign ended on November 14 with the final rallies being held in Colombo.

Counting of postal votes was started first. The Ratnapura and Jaffna postal voting results were announced first.

The final results are expected this afternoon. There are 710 counting centres throughout the country. Elections Commissioner Dissanayake has reserved Saturday for re-polling at centres where the poll is marred by acts of violence. In that case, the announcement of the winner will be delayed until those results are also collated.

More than 127,000 Government servants and an almost equal number of Armed Forces/Police personnel were engaged in elections duty islandwide. Most of them used the postal vote facility.

Head of the European Union Election Observation Mission John Cushnahan said they observed a 'brisk and normal pattern of voting' in the South although the North-East poll was marred by violence.

Speaking to the Daily News last night, he said "a very low turn out" was recorded in the uncleared areas in the North and East as well as Government controlled areas in Jaffna.

"We are waiting for the full report from our observers in the field.

"It was clear that the voter turnout from the LTTE held areas was very low. We will be examining the reasons behind this," Cushnahan said.

The EU will issue its preliminary report based on the findings of their 81 member observation team at a press conference on Saturday, "provided there is no re-poll".

Cushnahan said they were also prepared to observe the re-poll if the Commissioner decides to annul results of any polling station.

The EU headquarters has received several reports that groups of young people from LTTE held areas had burned tyres and election material and this is also being pursued.

He added that the EU mission was looking into the impact of the incidents in the East.

PAFFREL national coordinator Thusitha Aluthpatabendige said the 2005 Presidential Election was the best in the recent past, without major incidents of violence or electoral malpractices if not for the North-East situation. He said the election campaign that preceded the polls was also calm.

However, PAFFREL observed that the almost total absence of participation in the polls and an atmosphere of violence and intimidation in much of the North and East significantly affected the election in these areas.

The local monitoring body said this has "compromised the democratic process and institutions".

Aluthpatabendige said campaigning near polling stations and canvassing for votes were reported in the South. There were no major incidents of breaching the election law.

They have also recorded clashes between the supporters of two main political parties and attempted incidents of ballot stuffing.

In line with instructions issued by the Polls Chief, police took action to remove cut-outs and posters in the early stages of the campaign. The polls monitors have commended Police for their impartial conduct during the pre-polls and polls period.

President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga and both main candidates have appealed to the public to remain calm following the election.