By: Isuru Parakrama
September 21, Colombo (LNW): The first result of the postal voting for the 2024 Presidential Election has been released.
Anura Kumara Dissanayake – 19,185
Ranil Wickremesinghe – 6,641
Sajith Premadasa – 4,675
Namal Rajapaksa – 500
Dilith Jayaweera – 251
With that being said, Presidential Candidate of the National Peoples Power (NPP) Anura Kumara Dissanayake has secured a 60.83 per cent landslide win in postal votes in the Ratnapura District.
By: Isuru Parakrama
September 21, Colombo (LNW): Island-wide curfew will be imposed from 10 p.m. this evening till 6 a.m. tomorrow, September 22.
This will be in force as per gazette No. 2402/23 in compliance with the constitutional powers vested in President Ranil Wickremesinghe.
During this period, the public is urged to stay at home, and provide authorities with an authorised identification should they travel.
Anyone arriving at or leaving the island is permitted to provide their air ticket as a curfew licence.
Despite having a peaceful Presidential Election, the aforementioned action is taken for the safety of the people of Sri Lanka.
September 21, Colombo (LNW): Monday, September 23, 2024 has been declared a special holiday, Secretary of the Ministry of State Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils and Local Government Pradeep Yasaratne said.
The statement was confirmed by a press release issued by the Department of Government Information.
September 21, Colombo (LNW): As the polls closed at 4:00 p.m. for the 2024 Presidential Election, the Election Commission has released district-level voter turnout percentages, showcasing a strong response from the electorate across several regions.
The figures indicate robust participation, with certain districts recording notably high turnout rates, underscoring the significance of this pivotal election.
According to official data, voter turnout at the close of polling is as follows:
Earlier reports revealed that by 2:00 p.m., voter turnout had already exceeded 60 per cent, demonstrating a steady and committed response from voters.
In certain districts such as Nuwara-Eliya and Gampaha, turnout rates soared to 80 per cent, reflecting a particularly strong engagement in these areas.
Colombo, the country’s bustling capital, also saw a respectable 75 per cent turnout by the time polling stations closed.
The high participation rate in rural districts like Monaragala and Polonnaruwa highlights the widespread interest in this year’s presidential election, which features the largest number of candidates in Sri Lankan history.
Conversely, Kilinochchi, in the Northern Province, recorded a relatively lower turnout at 68 per cent, though it remains a significant number given the region’s complex political landscape.
With counting now underway, the focus shifts to the results, which are expected to be revealed before midnight today (21).
September 21, Colombo (LNW) A total of 164 election law violations have been reported today during the 2024 Presidential Election, according to the election monitoring body People’s Action for Free & Fair Elections (PAFFREL). Out of these, 109 violations have been confirmed, while 55 remain unconfirmed.
The reported violations include attacks on political party or candidate offices, illegal election propaganda, maintaining unauthorized party offices, influencing voters, irregularities related to ballot papers, and attempts at impersonation or illegal voting.
Despite these incidents, both PAFFREL and the National Election Commission Chairman have stated that the 2024 Presidential Election has been largely peaceful, with no major incidents of election law violations recorded.
September 21, Colombo (LNW): Voting in Sri Lanka’s Presidential Election concluded at 4:00 PM today, with nearly 17,140,354 voters casting their ballots at 13,421 polling stations across the country.
The National Election Commission announced that the first results, starting with the postal votes, are expected to be released before midnight tonight. The Commission also aims to complete announcing the full election results, including any preferential vote counts, by tomorrow (September 22).
September 21, Colombo (LNW): A 44-year-old resident of Thelwatte, Hikkaduwa, has been arrested for taking a photograph of his ballot paper at the polling station of Thelwatta Sumanarama Temple in Meetiyagoda. Galle District Returning Officer W. A. Dharmasiri stated that the individual was apprehended by police while casting his vote and photographing it.
Bringing and using mobile phones inside polling stations, counting stations, and result announcement stations is strictly prohibited, and this incident highlights the importance of adhering to these regulations to maintain the integrity of the election process.
September 21, Colombo (LNW)Tobias Pierlings, Director and Head of Division for South Asia and Southeast Asia at the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, along with a delegation from the German Embassy in Sri Lanka, visited the Hambantota International Port (HIP) last week to explore potential business opportunities and assess the port’s capabilities.
Bindu Ranasinghe, Deputy General Manager of Commercial and Marketing at HIPG, briefed the delegation on the port’s recent advancements, highlighting growth in RORO, bulk, oil and gas cargoes, and the expansion of container operations aligned with the development of the industrial zone.
“This visit allowed the German delegation to experience firsthand the ongoing developments at the Hambantota International Port. We discussed future opportunities for German businesses, including our planned expansions and significant investments in various sectors, including container operations,” said Ranasinghe. The discussions also touched on HIP’s rapid development as a commercial hub and the expansion of the cruise sector, which has opened new business avenues for associated industries. The Deputy General Manager also noted the growth in local employment at the port, which has nearly tripled since HIPG took over.
The German delegation included Olaf Malchow, Deputy Head of Mission Counselor at the German Embassy in Colombo; Marie Antonia von Schönburg, Chief Delegate of the Delegation for German Industry and Commerce in Sri Lanka; Dharini Daluwatte, Advisor for Trade, Development, and Political Affairs; and Malintha Gajanayake, Head of Corporate Affairs and Export Promotions.
The visitors were given a comprehensive overview of the port’s state-of-the-art facilities and a panoramic view of the entire complex from the 12th floor of HIP’s flagship Maritime Center Building.
Sri Lanka’s Presidential Election is in full swing, with voting underway at 13,421 polling stations across the country. A total of 17,140,354 voters are eligible to cast their ballots in this historic election, which features a record 38 candidates.
As of 2 PM, the voter turnout percentages reported by District Returning Officers are as follows:
Nuwara Eliya has reported the highest voter turnout at 70%, while Jaffna has the lowest so far at 49%. Voting will continue until 4 PM today, with officials expecting a strong turnout across the island.
By: Isuru Parakrama
September 21, Colombo (LNW): The Election Commission has reported a significant rise in the number of complaints related to the 2024 Presidential Election.
The total number of complaints has now reached 5,551, according to an official statement, indicating a growing trend in grievances, and heightened concerns over the electoral process now that the voting is in motion.
In the past 24 hours alone, 337 fresh complaints were lodged, with the overwhelming majority — 336 — pertaining to violations of election laws.
This surge underscores the intensity of the electoral climate and the challenges faced by authorities in ensuring compliance with regulations.
Despite the rise in complaints, the Election Commission has taken swift action, successfully resolving 4,929 of the reported cases to date.
The spike in complaints comes amidst an already tense environment, as Sri Lanka prepares for one of its most competitive presidential elections in history.
The Election Commission is working closely with law enforcement agencies to investigate claims of misconduct, with a focus on ensuring that voters are able to exercise their democratic rights free from undue influence or illegal activity.
