Voting to elect representatives to the North Central and Sabaragamuwa Provincial Councils closed at 4.00 pm today (Aug. 23rd), with a turnout of between 65 and 70 percent, said the Elections Secretariat.The sealed ballot boxes are being transported to counting centres by now, while the counting of postal votes is underway.The EC expects to release the first result by 2.00 am tomorrow.
The special poll monitoring coordinating unit said the election had been relatively peaceful.
However, the Centre for Monitoring Election Violence said it has received 43 complaints, including 24 serious incidents.
Its co-convener Uvindu Kulakurasuriya said considering the serious nature of pre-poll violence and the terror situation that ensued, this election could not be considered a free and fair one.
Meanwhile, R. Yogarajan of the Ceylon Workers' Congress allege that around 10,000 Tamil estate workers were denied their vote due to national identity card being made compulsory at the polls
