Casting votes to elect the next President concluded in Parliament a short while ago and the counting has begun.

A total of 223 MPs including the Speaker voted while two MPS abstained from the voting.

Meanwhile, the speaker announced that all the three candidates could monitor the counting of the votes or they can nominate a representative.

However, the Speaker informed no mobile phones will be permitted during the counting.

Accordingly, Acting President Ranil Wickremesinghe nominated MP Harin Fernando while Dullas Alahapperuma has nominated MP Dillan Perera and Anura Kumara Dissanayake has nominated MP Vijitha Herath to monitor the counting process.

Currently the valid votes are being separated and the count will take place from the valid votes.