Last Updated : 22-03-2010 17:09


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More than 70 percent vote

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( 25 Votes )
By Sumaiya Rizvi


Island wide voter turnout was more than 70% while the voter turnout for the North and East Provinces was less, People’s Action Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) Spokesperson Rohana Hettiarachchi said.
 

“The overall voter turnout was more than 70% island wide while the North and East witnessed a very low voter turnout of less than 20%,” Hettiarachchi said.

There were isolated incidents of violence that took place in Jaffna, Hambantota and Nawalapitiya with regard to grenade attacks and firing although these incidents were comparatively low considering the elections, Hettiarachchi said.
 

39 incidents of violence were reported at the time when the polls were closing, Hettiarachchi said. Although only 27 cases of violence were confirmed by the PAFFREL while 12 cases went unconfirmed, he added.
 

“There have been five cases of assaults, seven cases of intimidation and seven cases of illegal propaganda,” Hettiarachchi said. Seven of the most violent incidents were reported from the central province while the western and southern province had four incidents of election violence each, he said.
 

However when compared to the incidents of pre election violence that amounted to 757 the Election Day violence was comparatively low, Hettiarcachi said.


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Comments  

 
+85 # suresh 2010-01-26 16:34
HOPE FOR THE BEST FOR NEW LEADER TOMMORROW
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-43 # sag 2010-01-26 16:52
New = MR = New MR .... the reality
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+11 # indigo 2010-01-26 19:15
your logic needs some rethinking
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+4 # vasee 2010-01-26 19:45
hi international cominity now there is no ltte
so who stop the north east people not to vote
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0 # robin 2010-01-27 06:36
When will Srilankan politics ever be corruption free and our elcted leaders, ministers and governtment servants actually work for the people and not for their personal financial wealth. Perhaps we Srilankans living overseas with sound education and ethics should return to our homeland and lead our country in an honest and dedicated manner for the people, most whom are well below the poverty line and cannot make a decent living. Enough is enough. Rise up and lets do something.
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+35 # Jay 2010-01-26 16:38
There should be a re-polling in the North and East as the people were not provided with the means to cast their votes.
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+14 # menaka 2010-01-26 16:44
finally it is over! hope for the best...
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+15 # Jason harley 2010-01-26 16:46
This is just like the last presidnetial election..very low percentage of votes from North and East. So we know the result by now. This was not expected when the leaders said this is the first ever election as one nation....it shouold have been atleast 50%...so We wonder why? God Bless our motherland......
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-4 # suren 2010-01-26 16:46
SF lost his last chance. 20% vote turnout in NE implies a definite defeat, i'm afraid
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-8 # lakmal 2010-01-26 16:47
dream on 20% vote in east MR is the winner
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-24 # Ktw 2010-01-26 16:47
Definitely, it would be good for the current leader who is better than unknown military man
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-14 # lrksome 2010-01-26 16:47
By absenting themselves at the polling booths the Northern people have again spoken: they(80%) support the candidature of Mahinda Rajapakse! If they had cast their valuable votes things could have been different. This shows that TNA is not respected by the Tamils as well.
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+3 # albert 2010-01-26 18:54
the bombs stopped them from voting
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+5 # Shanil Samarakoon 2010-01-26 20:13
How naive are you! You think 80 percent made a conscious decision. It's obvious that the majority were either deprived of the opportunity (paperwork, transport) or threatened with violence.
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+10 # uditha 2010-01-26 16:48
A new beginning with SF.
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+3 # suwantha 2010-01-26 16:48
this is the change people requested.sarath fonseka is our new leader.we are free of thuggery rule
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+10 # Windsor 2010-01-26 16:50
less than 20% voter turn out in the north and the east is NOT good news for SF:(
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+7 # SL 2010-01-26 16:50
Change is on the way!
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+5 # Lalitha 2010-01-26 16:51
What a disservice Tamils have done to themselves by refraining from voting! MR will have a cakewalk. NEVERTHELESS, THIS ELECTION WOULD HAVE CONVEYED TO MAHINDA THAT A HUGE SEGMENT OF THE POPULATION WANTS HIM TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF CORRUPTION, AND HE CANNOT TAKE ANYONE FOR GRANTED.
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+6 # Sinhalaya 2010-01-26 16:53
Change is coming hurray
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+4 # chandra w 2010-01-26 16:54
20% from NE means ...it will be impossible for SF to win.!!
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+6 # Marikkar 2010-01-26 16:54
20% in the nirth? Boycotting?
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-12 # Gajaba 2010-01-26 16:55
If SF can not take care of his own vote, how can he take care of us?????
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+4 # Citizen silva 2010-01-26 16:56
All v can do now is hope 4 d best!
as long as d election is not rigged what evers d outcome v must accept it as 1 nation!
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+7 # Said Hussein 2010-01-26 16:56
People want a change and hope they used the vote in a wise manner. Otherwise the poor wil continue to suffer and the suffering of the tamil population will continue. Let us all hope for a more stable and peaceful country with a new President.

Said Hussein - UK
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+7 # Mohamed Azmil 2010-01-26 16:58
I have seen an election forecast on which northern province was in much favor for SF and voting percentage was around 70% there. Based on that, the report tells SF would take 50.66%, but if voter turnaround is 20%, I think MR comes this time though I voted for SF.
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0 # Oscar 2010-01-26 17:04
Suresh, I stand with your comments. Join others too to welcome our Hero! General Fonseka. I heard that the goons are trying to escape, is it true?
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-2 # local boy 2010-01-26 18:18
UNP lovers wake up... Its MR time
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+1 # LS 2010-01-26 17:09
O.K guys. This was your last chance for democracy and to decide the destiny of the people. Whether the outcome will be fair or unfair, people of Sri Lanka will have to accept it tomorrow and make up their minds. This will decide who will celibrate tomorrow, whether the people who wanted a change and a new hope or those who are benefitted by the present govt and those who believed in govt propaganda.
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+3 # nalin 2010-01-26 17:09
SF will be our next president
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-3 # vithana 2010-01-26 18:20
Are you a Norwegian Nalin?
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+1 # nuwan 2010-01-26 18:55
i doubt. i also voted for him. but with this low turnout in NE, his chances are minimum
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+18 # BANDARA 2010-01-26 17:12
hope for new change and good govrnance
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-19 # sanjaya 2010-01-26 17:14
less than 20% in the North and East??? ok, TNA is out then!
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-16 # Sanjaya 2010-01-26 17:22
Where is TNA? No tigers to to vote for them?
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+30 # Ruzaick Abdeen 2010-01-26 17:24
Less than 20% in North & East ??? well planned by the Government
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+4 # dushmantha j 2010-01-26 17:28
Less than 20%? It reminds me the news article "Nimal Lewke transfered"
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+5 # Rehan 2010-01-26 17:28
Mmhhh Unbeleivable???only 20% in North & East...It will effect greatly on the final result..Let see..Hope for a good President...
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-2 # Y2K 2010-01-26 17:30
H ah ha MR victory is sure now
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-9 # Kato 2010-01-26 17:31
Fonseka forgot to register to vote and hid that fact from the nation. Is that kind of person who we want as the president?
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-17 # Kandasamy 2010-01-26 17:36
20%?

Still LTTE has the power to change people decision????
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-4 # Hema 2010-01-26 17:45
Less than 20 % in North & Esat. Ranil has to say poda sarath poda, poda ranil poda.
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+3 # Ajith 2010-01-26 18:28
seems like the blocking of transportation by the Gov has done a major damage there..
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+12 # Kanishka 2010-01-26 18:01
This shows that SF was not interested in politics in 2008, but deeply engaged in winning the war, so the country needs a leader with that type of commitment !
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+2 # David odumbe 2010-01-26 18:10
Guys!

No matter whoever comes there is nothing going to change for the Minorities, especially for Tamils. 20% turnout?. The people are fed up with the elections and the promises given by the candidates. Why the candidates should go to the temples in Jaffna and adhere to the Kovil regulations (without shirts) to enter the Kovils during elections time only. Why cannot they visit Kovils in Colombo in the normal days to be with the people as they do for their own religion. The leader should be for all! Guys! note that you all are not fooling others, you are fooling yourselves!
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+2 # ruddika 2010-01-26 18:15
20% turn out is as a result of bombs which put panic on general public to vote....
All these may be well prepland acts of govt....crap govt...
corrupted govt....
All you would have seen the honesty on SF's face while no one can see honestness on MR's face...See MR's face itself indicates...
all corrupted.....
god will decide who's gud for country...
SF Jaiho.......SF come on....Jai Ho....U will....
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0 # AJ-Sydney 2010-01-26 18:16
Usuallly EPDP OR OTHER MILTAN GROUPS AND ARMY FORCES JAFFNA PEOPLE TO VOTE BUT THIS TIME AVOIDED TO DO BECAUSE ALL TAMIL VOTES WILL GOT TO SF so they only scared people not to vote.Funny
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0 # Santhiran 2010-01-26 18:23
Recognizing MR through this election means that the country is favoring corruption, nepotism etc. If that is the case many people will leave this country. Only thieves will remain in this country.
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+5 # Vijay 2010-01-26 18:56
Is this Democracy???? People used to say that it is Island wide election.... This time no LTTE... but still no votes cast.... what does it mean??
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+2 # mark 2010-01-26 19:01
No 20% of the vote is good. Last time only 1% voted. That means that over 150,000 people voted in Jaffna, and a similar number in Batticaloa and Trinco. That means at least 300,000 tamil people have voted. If you give 2/3rd to SF he gets 200,000- which is enough to win
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+1 # Shani 2010-01-26 19:41
I can't understand why the present government need thuggery and killings to silence anyone who wish to speak against them, If they have been a righteous party,

I sincerely hope if SF comes to power, that he will change the political arena to a fair and level playing field.
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0 # panishkarsingh 2010-01-26 19:52
If the Majority of the nation votes for hardships and a blind eye to nepotism, favouritism and Bribery, "GOOD FOR THEM" there is nothing in this world we could hope for them: Handouts, and needyness instead of a walking the roads to prosperity. But in case SF wins he will have a mighty bumpy road to ride to rid the nation of all the bad blood that flows in one of the most nicest countries on earth.
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+2 # patman 2010-01-26 20:18
However, the precious voters of Srilanka have shown their responsiblity.
Reply
 

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