TMVP sweeps the board

UPFA takes Batticaloa Municipal Council:

Rasika Somarathna in Batticaloa

BATTICALOA: The Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulligal (TMVP) won eight out of the nine bodies up for grabs in Monday's Local Government Elections for the Batticaloa district with the jewel of the crown, the Batticaloa Municipal Council, going to the UPFA that contested with TMVP backing.

According to authorities, the election held under tight security concluded on a peaceful note without a single poll related violence being reported on election day. Despite rain in most parts of the district and even heavy flooding together with the possibility of sabotage on the part of the LTTE, there was a 59 per cent voter turn out.

Despite the heavy security presence, all arrangements were in place for the voters to cast their ballot without any hindrance and special transport arrangements were provided to ensure free mobility for the public.

The Koralepattu North Pradeshiya Sabha division recorded the highest percentage of polling (79.8 per cent) while the figure for the Batticaloa Municipal Council was around 49 per cent. The UPFA (with TMVP) won 11 seats out of a total of 19 seats in the Batticaloa Municipal Council.

The largest election monitoring body in the country, PAFFREL releasing an interim report immediately after the polls called the healthy turn out of voters as an indication of the people's desire for a change from the conditions of conflict and militancy and for a restoration of democratic institutions.

According to PAFFREL which covered 98 per cent of the polling areas no incidents of injury or acts of violence were recorded by its 15 mobile units which travelled to all parts of the district. A few incidents that were reported was not sufficient to have any impact on the final result, the PAFFREL said. According to them most polling booths saw lively participation of voters.

The election was keenly contested in many areas even in the midst of bad weather. DIG (elections) H.M.D. Herath told the Daily News that not a single incident of violence was reported on polling day.

According to the DIG, the total number of incidents reported during the entire election period was 30 with a majority being minor.

The DIG said special measures have been taken to prevent incidents of violence in the aftermath of the poll with certain candidates and supporters expressing fears of retaliation.

The authorities meanwhile have urged both candidates and supporters to cooperate positively in the effort to restore normality and the democratic process. At the time of going to press, the counting of preferential votes was in progress and the results were expected to be announced later.