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Millions
boycott PC elections Voting in elections to six of the country's eight provincial councils plunged to a record low of about 45 percent, Additional Elections Commissioner K. Senanayake told The Sunday Times last night. The last and only time voter turn-out recorded less than 50 per cent (49.7%) was for the Provincial Council elections in 1988 when provincial elections were held for the first time amidst the rumblings of a reign of terror. Ironically at that time, the JVP led a boycott of the polls. This time, it was in the forefront of urging voters to go to the polls to give the UPFA government a mandate at local level. The voter turnout at the parliamentary elections in April was 76 percent. By midnight yesterday, the Elections Department announced the results of postal voting in the Ratnapura and Hambantota districts with the UPFA having a substantial lead. Sporadic election-related incidents including chasing away voters, cases of rigging and intimidation were reported, but police said that overall the level of malpractice or violence was low. At least 38 persons were arrested yesterday for election-related offences and other criminal activities. One of the most serious incidents was in the Ratnapura district's Godakawela area where UPFA and UNF supporters clashed and exchanged gunfire on Friday night, leading to a bystander being stabbed in the town. In Kekirawa, five UPFA supporters were injured in a shooting incident. Other cases of serious election offences were reported from Nawalapitiya, Katana, Matara and Mahiyangana. Many voters who did not go to the polls attributed the low turnout to the recent events in Parliament, defeated parliamentary candidates contesting the provincial polls, too many elections within a short period and a lack of interest in the provincial council system. Polling booths were opened as usual at 7 a.m. But instead of a rush in the first hour as reported in previous elections, some booths reported yesterday that few if any had turned up in the first hour. Heavy rain in several parts of the country added to the polling gloom and desperate candidates or their agents were seen offering transport or other incentives to the people. Even the estate sector, where voting is generally heavy and enthusiastic, thousands of people turned their backs on the polling booths and went to work as usual, reports said. One of the main polls monitoring groups said yesterday the low turnout could also produce large scale rigging in the final hours. PAFFREL Executive Director Kingsley Rodrigo said most people had seemed to have lost interest in the elections and monitors were extra vigilant against any stuffing of half-empty ballot boxes. The Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) said it receoived more than 90 complaints of election violence or violation of the law, including ballot stuffing. JHU blasts
PCs as business ventures JHU National Organiser Ven. Kolonnawe Siri Sumangala Thera said the Supreme Sangha Council said the PC system was introduced mainly to solve the problems in the North-East, but ironically it was defunct in the North-East and being carried on without meaning in other areas. JHU sources said that most party members did not cast their votes, but some had decided to go and cancel their votes in a bid to prevent rigging. |
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