COLOMBO (News1st): Counting of votes for this year’s parliamentary election began at 7 am on Thursday, officials said, with the first result expected this afternoon.

Counting will take place at 2820 centres under three phases, by counting votes in ballot boxes, then party votes, and preferential votes, elections commissioner-general Saman Sri Rathnayake said.

At least 11.5 million voters out of a total 16.2 million registered voters cast their vote on Wednesday to elect 196 parliamentarians in the 225-seat legislature.

The voter turnout stood at around 71 percent, election commission chairman Mahinda Deshapriya said after polling concluded at 5 pm.

News 1st will bring the parliamentary election results via its First and Fast results broadcast on its TV and radio channels.

Election results can also be viewed on https://www.election.newsfirst.lk

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