Final results likely within six hours: EC

The final results of the Presidential Election 2019 are expected to be released within the next six hours, Elections Commission Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya said.

He said the cause for the delay for issuing results was not only the length of the ballot paper but also due to heavy rains at Ratnapura, Kegalle and Badulla districts last evening.

The commissioner said the final results are likely to be released between 3.00 and 4.00 pm today after having invited the candidates to the election commission office. 

However, he said it was only a forecast. 

A total of 205 results of electoral districts including 160 electorates, 22 postal voting districts, 22 districts are yet to be released, the Commissioner said.

"The first segment of 204 election results would be signed by me and the final result would be signed by the other two commissioners including me. With that, we could conclude issuing of results" the commissioner added. (Chaturanga Samarawickrama)