Chairman of Elections Commission urges public to vote early

Colombo (News 1st): In less than 12 hours, Sri Lankans across the island will head to the polls to elect the 7th executive president of Sri Lanka. In the past years, though voting hours ended at 4:00 pm, this year, polling hours were extended by one hour and will end by 5:00 pm. Chairman of the National Election Commission responded to several questions by journalists regarding the election.

Journalist: It's now in the hands of the voter. How should they behave on Saturday? Mahinda Deshapriya: One must understand and remember that the other person has the same right as you do. Therefore, do no try to influence or pressurize anyone. We witnessed how an individual burnt a family member's voting card. Do not engage in such activities. I have the same right as you do. If all voters remember this, we can hold a free and fair election on Saturday. Journalist: Voting hours have been extended for the first time. Mahinda Deshapriya: We urge everyone to vote early. Do not wait till 5:00 pm. Go to the polling station at least by 2:30 in the afternoon. Journalist: When will results start coming in? Mahinda Deshapriya: The results of postal votes can be announced before midnight. Most probably results of the Ratnapura district. The first result could be announced at around 2:00 am. By 8:00 the morning, we hope to have announced the results of nearly half of the electorates. If we do proceed to a preferential vote count, it may delay till Monday.

The process of transporting ballot boxes and officials to respective polling centers for tomorrow's Presidential Election is complete. Approximately 300,000 state officials have been allocated for election duty. Colombo Registered voters - 1,670,403 Polling Stations - 1,175 The commercial capital of Colombo comprises of 15 electorates. The distribution of ballot boxes and ballot papers to the 1175 polling stations in Colombo commenced this morning from Royal College and D.S.Senanayaka College in Colombo. Officers on election duty left the Colombo District Secretariat based in Narahenpita today (November 15). Speaking to the media Colombo District Returning Officer Sunil Kannangara noted that after the polls end at 5:00 pm, they will start to count the postal votes at 5.15 pm at Royal College Colombo. He added that starting from 6:00 pm after the ballot boxes are delivered to the counting centers, they will start to count them. He noted that they hope to commence counting of votes at all counting centers by around 8:00 pm. Gampaha Registered voters - 1,751,892 Polling Stations - 1,184 The highest number of registered voters in this year's presidential election is reported from the Gampaha district. The distribution of ballot boxes and ballot papers to the 1,184 voting centers in the Gampaha district, commenced from the Pattalagedara Siyanehe National Science Faculty. Gampaha District Returning Officer Sunil Jayalath noted that after voting hours end, sealed ballot boxes will be taken to three counting centers. He said the counting centers are the Naiwala Technical Institute, Vidyaloka College, and Pattlagedara College. Kalutara Registered voters - 955,079 Polling Stations - 604 The distribution of ballot boxes and ballot papers to the 8 electorates of the Kalutara district commenced this morning, from the Kalutara, Pasdun Rata Education College. Anuradhapura Registered voters - 682,450 Polling stations - 63 The Anuradhapura District which belongs to the North Central Province consists of 07 electorates. Ballot boxes, ballot papers, and officials were transported to the polling station from Anuradhapura Central College. District Returning Officer of Anuradhapura R. M. Wanninayeka said that its best if all voters could vote early, during the morning hours. Polonnaruwa  Registered voters - 326,443 Polling stations - 288 The ballot boxes were transported from the Pulathisipura National Academy of Education to the polling centers in the Polonnaruwa District. Polonnaruwa district consists of 03 electorates. The District Returning Officer Panduka Abeywardena said after voting hours end tomorrow (November 16), the votes will be counted in 36 counting centers. Galle Registered voters - 858,749 Polling stations - 712 Ballot boxes were transported this morning to 10 electorates of the Galle district in the Southern province, from St. Aloysius' College and the Technical College, Galle. In the meantime, the ballot boxes and officials were transported through the Madu river to the Maduwa polling center in Balapitiya. According to the Galle District Returning Officer Somarathana Vidhanapathirana, in terms of security, staff, and equipment, they are prepared for the election tomorrow. Matara Registered voters - 652 417 Polling stations - 458 Ballot boxes and ballot papers for the seven electorates in the Matara district were brought to the Sanath Jayasuriya grounds from the Sujatha Vidyalaya in Matara. Batticaloa Registered voters - 398,301 Polling stations - 428 The ballot boxes were dispatched and the officials were deployed from the Hindu College in Batticaloa today. The Batticaloa district in the Eastern Province consists of 3 electorates. Ampara Registered voters - 503,790 Polling stations - 523 The ballot boxes of 4 electorates in the Digamadulla District were dispatched from the Hardy Technological Institute in Ampara. Trincomalee Registered voters - 281,114 Polling stations - 306 The officials and ballot boxes required to carry out the election duties of the 3 electorates in the Trincomalee District were deployed from the Mihindupura Technical College. Vavuniya Registered voters - 282,119 Polling stations - 353 The ballot boxes were dispatched to the Wanni Electorate from the Vavuniya District Secretariat Office today. Ballot boxes were also dispatched to the Jaffna district from the Jaffna Madya Maha Vidyalaya. The ballot boxes were dispatched from Kayts with the assistance of the Sri Lanka Navy. Kurunegala Registered voters - 1,331,705 Polling stations - 959 Distribution of ballot boxes to polling stations in the Kurunegala district commenced this morning from Maliyadeva College and Sir John Kotalawala College in Kurunegala. Puttalam Registered voters - 281,114 Polling stations - 411 The process of transporting ballot papers, ballot boxes and officers to the polling stations in the Puttalam district commenced from Fathima Balika Vidyalaya and St.Andrew's Madhya Maha Vidyalaya in Puttalam. 411 pollings stations have been established within the 5 electorates in the Puttalam district. Kandy Registered voters - 1,111,860 Polling stations - 835 The distribution of ballot boxes to the polling stations in the Kandy district commenced this morning, from the Polgolla based National Cooperative Development Institute, Open University and the Mahaweli National College of Education. District Returning Officer in Kandy Tissa Karunaratne said:

"All officers who were assigned, departed from the center in Polgolla at around 10.30 this morning, along with the ballot boxes, papers, and other equipment. We will begin counting postal votes at 5.15 pm at the National Cooperative Development Institute in Polgolla. We are expected to release postal vote results by 10.30 pm."

Matale Registered voters - 401,496 Polling stations - 327 Ballot boxes for the Matale district were distributed this morning from the Christ Church College, Matale. Nuwara-Eliya Registered voters - 569,028 Polling stations - 488 The Nuwara-Eliya district comprises 4 electorates. Ballot boxes for the polling centers in the Nuwara-Eliya district were issued from The Gamini National School in Nuwara-Eliya. The Maskeliya electorate has the highest count of voters at this year's election, which stands at 325,030. Badulla Registered voters - 657,766 Polling stations - 523 Ballot boxes were transported this morning to 09 electorates, in the Badulla district from the Badulla Central College. Monaragala Registered voters - 366,524 Polling stations - 351 News 1st correspondent in the Monaragala District Nayana Kumara spoke to the returning officer on the preparations made in the district. He added that there is a generally peaceful environment across the Monaragala district. According to the returning officer over 1900 police and police special task force personnel have been deployed to ensure security across the district. He added that police patrols have been strengthened. Ratnapura Registered voters - 864,978 Polling stations - 627 Ballot boxes were transported to polling centers in the Ratnapura district of the Sabaragamuwa Province, from the Ratnapura District secretariat office and the Technical college Kegalle Registered voters - 676440 Polling stations - 574 Ballot boxes were transported to polling centers in the Kegalle district from the Kegalle College and the Swarna Jayanthi College. The Kegalle District Returning Officer Chandrasiri Bandara noted that they have received the fullest cooperation from all officials who are involved in this process. He added that over 5,500 officials have been deployed here and 1200 police and special task force personnel have been deployed across the district.