November 14, Colombo (LNW): The voting results of Galle Electorate of Galle District are as follows;

National Peoples Power (NPP): 39,707 (70.16%)
Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB): 9,410 (16.63%)
New Democratic Front (NDF): 3,741 (6.61%)
Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP): 1,885 (3.33%)

November 14, Colombo (LNW): The postal voting results of Kalutara District are as follows;

National Peoples Power (NPP): 29,076 (78.99%)
Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB): 3,340 (9.07%)
New Democratic Front (NDF): 1,913 (5.2%)
Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP): 1,160 (3.15%)

November 14, Colombo (LNW): The postal voting results of Ratnapura District are as follows;

National Peoples Power (NPP): 24,776 (79.4%)
Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB): 2,969 (9.51%)
New Democratic Front (NDF): 1,528 (4.9%)
Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP): 1,031 (3.3%)

November 14, Colombo (LNW): The first postal voting result of the 2024 Parliamentary Election has been released.

Accordingly, the postal vote results of Galle district are as follows;

National Peoples Power (NPP): 32,296 (79.08%)
Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB): 3,523 (8.63%)
New Democratic Front (NDF): 1,964 (4.81%)
Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP): 1,846 (4.52%)

By: Isuru Parakrama

November 14, Colombo (LNW): President Anura Kumara Dissanayake described this year’s Parliamentary Election as the most peaceful and democratic election in Sri Lanka’s history.

The President made this remark, in response to reporters after casting his vote this (14) afternoon.

“This campaign has been the most democratic and peaceful election in Sri Lankan history, which stands as a testament to the maturity of our citizens and their commitment to democracy,” Dissanayake said.

Expressing confidence in a favourable outcome for his party, the National People’s Power (NPP), Dissanayake emphasised the importance of responsible celebration, urging all political supporters to respect one another regardless of the election result.

“We are seeking a strong mandate to form a resilient parliament, and I am confident that the people’s support will reflect that. However, I urge everyone to celebrate our victory, if achieved, in a manner that upholds peace and respects all other political affiliations,” he stated.

By: Isuru Parakrama

November 14, Colombo (LNW): Following the conclusion of Sri Lanka’s 2024 General Election, the Election Commission has confirmed that vote counting will commence from 7:15 pm onwards once ballot boxes reach the designated counting centres.

Election Commission Chairman R.M.A.L. Ratnayake made the announcement in a public statement, detailing the structured release of results.

Results will be shared in three stages. First, initial outcomes will be published at the constituency level, followed by district-level results.

The third phase will involve declaring the number of parliamentary seats allocated to each political party and independent group.

Preference vote counting, determining the individual MPs for each party, will begin at each centre once these main results are available.

However, the Commission clarified that only preference votes of parties and groups that have secured seats will be counted.

Representatives of other groups not qualifying for parliamentary seats will be asked to leave the counting centres at that stage, ensuring a streamlined process as the final preference tallies are determined.

November 14, Colombo (LNW): The ballot boxes containing postal votes were transported to the vote counting centre in Polgolla Adarsha Vidyalaya in Kandy.

These ballot boxes were assembled and sent under heightened security from the Kandy District Secretariat, and the counting of votes began at about 5 p.m. this evening.

The number of registered postal votes in the Kandy District amounts to 57,951, amongst which the number of accepted votes are 57,092.

The casting of postal votes, accordingly, is at 99 per cent, said Kandy District Returning Officer Chandana Tennakoon.

Overall, 738,050 voters were deemed eligible for postal voting in this year’s Parliamentary Election. The casting of postal votes was carried out on October 30, November 01, 04, 07 and 08.

Courtesy: Nadeeka Daya Bandara (Kandy)

By: Isuru Parakrama

November 14, Colombo (LNW): The 2024 General Election in Sri Lanka officially closed this evening, with polling stations across the country operating from 7:00 am to 4:00 pm.

Voters visited 13,421 polling centres to elect representatives for the Tenth Parliament of Sri Lanka, marking a significant event in the nation’s democratic process.

This election determines the composition of the new 225-member Parliament, with 196 seats decided by public vote and an additional 29 seats allocated through the National List, which allows political parties to nominate members based on overall vote shares.

The inaugural session of the Tenth Parliament is scheduled to open on November 21, 2024 at 10:00 am, when newly elected representatives will take their seats to address the country’s legislative agenda for the coming term.

The voter turnout in each district following the conclusion of the election is elaborated below:

Colombo: 65%
Nuwara Eliya: 68%
Kurunegala: 64%
Batticaloa: 61%,
Matara: 64%
Puttalam: 56%
Anuradhapura: 65%
Badulla: 66%
Mannar: 70%
Trincomalee: 67%
Mullativu: 63%
Kegalle: 64%
Polonnaruwa: 65%
Ratnapura: 65%

By: Isuru Parakrama

November 14, Colombo (LNW): The National Election Commission has called on all media outlets and social media users to refrain from releasing unofficial election results before the commission’s formal announcements.

In a recent statement, the Commission stressed the importance of following established guidelines to ensure accuracy and maintain public trust during the election period.

This request follows a Gazette notification issued on September 25, which outlines strict media protocols for election coverage.

The Election Commission has reminded all platforms—print, broadcast, digital, and social media—to strictly adhere to these regulations.

The guidelines aim to prevent misinformation and maintain public order as vote counts are tallied and results prepared for official release.

By: Staff Writer

November 14, Colombo (LNW): National Security Council Israel lowers threat level for Arugam Bay area from 4 to 2, after suspects arrested in connection to IRGC plot to kill Israelis Israeli authorities Wednesday eased a travel warning for Sri Lanka on Wednesday, some three weeks after cautioning tourists at a popular beach town of an imminent terrorist threat.

Israel and the United States have recently relaxed travel advisories for Sri Lanka’s Arugam Bay, following the arrest of several individuals linked to an Iranian plot to target Israelis.

The National Security Council of Israel, which issues travel alerts, downgraded its threat level for Arugam Bay from a “highly credible” level four to a more moderate level two, signifying a less immediate risk.

This change came just weeks after Israel had warned of a potential terrorist attack in the area, a popular destination for Israeli tourists.

The heightened warning had initially extended across the southeastern coast of Sri Lanka, including the towns of Hikkaduwa and Arugam Bay, which is known for its surfing spots favored by Israeli travelers.

However, the rest of the island was downgraded from level three (moderate threat) to level two, indicating that the overall danger had diminished.

The shift in the security situation follows a breakthrough in the investigation of an alleged plot orchestrated by Farhad Shakeri, an Afghan national recruited by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

In an affidavit filed in U.S. federal court, Shakeri reportedly told the FBI that he and an accomplice had been instructed to carry out a mass shooting targeting Israelis at Arugam Bay.

 Shakeri claimed the attack was planned for the region, known for its Israeli surfing community. His accomplice, one of several individuals arrested by Sri Lankan authorities, was alleged to have provided weapons for the attack.

Following these developments, Sri Lankan authorities, with assistance from local security forces, ramped up safety measures in Arugam Bay and surrounding areas. The government had already made security improvements after receiving warnings from international sources.

On October 23, Israel had advised its nationals to leave the area immediately, citing the threat of terrorist attacks targeting Israeli citizens. Travelers were encouraged to avoid identifying themselves as Israelis and to stay in more secure areas like the capital, Colombo.

Despite the easing of the advisory, Israel’s National Security Council continued to caution Israeli citizens to remain vigilant. The Council’s guidance included warnings against wearing symbols of Israel or Judaism while traveling in Sri Lanka, reflecting ongoing tensions in the region, particularly following the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. This conflict has sparked protests and demonstrations across Sri Lanka, a predominantly Buddhist country, where some local Muslim groups have shown solidarity with Palestinian causes.