By IRNA,
New Delhi : The polling for the sixth Presidential election in Sri Lanka has been more or less peaceful so far. Election monitors say minor election related incidents have been reported in some areas including Jaffna and Gampaha.
The Centre for Free and Fair Elections (CAFFE) said that there were more than 6 minor incidents reported early Tuesday morning, All India Radio (AIR) reported.
A grenade exploded near the Jaffna mayor’s office in Nallur although no injuries were reported. Some of the party functionaries were also attacked and fired at.
Military spokesperson Brigadier Udaya Nanyakkara said two cases of minor explosions were reported from Jaffna in the wee hours this morning.
Voting began at 7 a.m. local time at some 11,000 polling stations. In all, 14 million people are eligible to exercise their franchise till polling ends at 4 p.m. local time.
Incumbent President Mahinda Rajapaksa, 64, representing the ruling United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA) is contesting the elections against his former Army commander, General (retired) Sarath Fonseka, 59, who has the backing of four leading opposition political parties.
Twenty other candidates also are contesting, but are unlikely to make an impact. A quarter of a million electoral officials have been stationed across the country for the poll.
The counting of ballots will commence on Tuesday evening and results will be announced on Wednesday.
Tuesday’s election is the first peacetime presidential polling since Tamil Tigers took up arms in 1972.