UPFA tops Ratnapura postal votes

United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) topped the postal votes in the Ratnapura district with 11,368 votes (49.46%) while the United National Party (UNP) obtained 9,673 votes (42.09%). The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) obtained 1808 votes (7.87%).

Audio: Most peaceful election ever in SL -- President

President Maithripala Sirisena said today’s election was one of the most peaceful, free and fair elections in the history of Sri Lanka. He said his decision, as President, to stay neutral at the poll was a major reason that the election was peaceful.

UPFA, SLFP general secretaries stuck in a quagmire

Concerns were raised by political parties and the legal fraternity today over a possible delay in gazetting of national list members by Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya because of the dispute over the post of UPFA General Secretary.

Video: Polls peaceful, free and fair - EC

While claiming that the Elections Department faced a huge challenge while carrying out duties in the run up to the General Elections as there were only 35 days to prepare for it, Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya today said overall the election was concluded in a peaceful, free and fair manner.

13 SLFP CC members sacked

Hot on the heels of the general election which ended at 4.00 p.m. President Maitripala Sisrisena, in a further attempt to wrest control of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) party, is reported to have expelled 13 of its Central Committee (CC) members and replaced them by a new set of members.

Refrain from post-election processions

While stating that today’s general election was concluded in a peaceful manner, the police requested the people to refrain from engaging in processions for at least seven days after election results have been declared.

Saudi executes three Lankans

Saudi Arabia today executed three Sri Lankans found guilty of robbing and killing a citizen, the Saudi Arabian interior ministry said and added that in a separate case Saudi Arabia had also executed an Egyptian convicted of murder.

Voting ends; final turnout

Voting for the General Elections 2015, which commenced at 7 a.m. ended across the country at 4 p.m. Following are details of final voter turnout at some districts as reported by respective District Secretariats.

​Liquor shops closed tomorrow

All liquor shops and bars will be closed tomorrow (August 18) in the view of General Election 2015, Commissioner General of Excise, L.K.P. Gunawardene said today.

​Voter turnout

According to District Secretariats, the following are the details of the voter turnout reported from several districts by 1pm:

​Voting shows upward trend: Poll Monitors

The voting in the Western, Southern, Eastern and Northern Provinces have seen and increase when compared with past elections, Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE) said today.

Water cut in Colombo, Kotte and Dehiwela-Mt. Lavinia

An indefinite water cut will be imposed in the municipal areas of Colombo, Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte and Dehiwela- Mount Lavinia, the Water Board said.  

GE Peaceful thus far

Voting which commenced at 7 am today has been peaceful thus far with no major incidents of election violence being reported from any part of the country, polls monitors said.

Election results by midnight

The first election result may be announced by midnight today. Polling will conclude at 4.00 pm. After that the ballot boxes will be taken to the counting centres.

​Voting for General Elections commences

Voting for the General Election-2015 has commenced at 7am to elect 196 members of Parliament. The voting is scheduled to end 4 pm.

Watchout for thundershowers on election day

As Sri Lankans take time off to cast their vote tomorrow, the Department of Meteorology warned of thunder showers in most parts of the country.

Indonesia plane wreckage found

The wreckage of an Indonesian plane carrying 54 people has been found in the remote Papua region, officials say.

Two killed in crash

Two people were killed and five others injured when the van they were travelling in crashed into a wall on the A9 road in Kodikamam, Jaffna today, police said.

Prageeth probe: Police under no pressure to conceal infor

Police Headquarters said today that some of the details of the investigation into the disappearance of Prageeth Eknaligoda had been released to the public but the rest could not be revealed because the investigations were continuing.

Admiral Jayantha Perera appointed Advisor to President

Former Navy Commander Admiral Jayantha Perera was appointed as the Advisor to the President on Maritime Affairs by President Maithripala Sirisena with effect from August 13, 2015.

Indonesian passenger plane missing over Papua region

An Indonesian domestic passenger aircraft carrying 54 people lost contact with air traffic control today in the remote eastern Papua region, the National Search and Rescue Agency (BASARNAS) said.

Sobitha Thera commends Election Chief

The Ven. Maduluwave Sobitha Thera, who heads the Movement for a Just Society, today met Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya and encouraged him to keep up the good work he was doing in making sure that this election was free and fair.

Chinese tourists advised to be cautious in Sri Lanka

Chinese tourists traveling in Sri Lanka have been urged to remain cautious due to various accidents in the island nation.

Two Chinese nabbed at BIA with currency, garnets

Two Chinese nationals with foreign currency and gems worth Rs. 7.8 million were arrested by the Sri Lanka Customs yesterday, while attempting to smuggle out to Delhi at the Bandaranaike International Airport.

Two youths drown in Maussakele

Two youths aged 17 and 19 had drowned while they were bathing at the Maussakele Reservoir in Maskeliya yesterday, the Police said.

​Indian police unable to obtain inputs from ex-LTTE cadre

A former militant of the proscribed LTTE K. Krishnakumar (39) arrested by the Indian police in Tamil Nadu on July 20 turned out to be a hard nut to crack and the ‘Q’ Branch police could arrest only one person, a Sri Lankan Tamil who had offered financial assistance to him in the aftermath of his arrest, police sources said.

Man shot dead in Valachchenai

A 35-year-old man was shot dead in Valachchenai by unidentified gunmen while he was riding his motorcycle this morning, police said.

63,000 police personnel on election duty

Police Chief N.K. Ilangakoon said today 63,000 police personnel belonging to all ranks would be deployed on election duty in view of Monday’s general elections.

Sri Lanka stun India to claim first Test

Rangana Herath picked up seven wickets in a sublime display of left-arm spin bowling to power Sri Lanka to a spectacular comeback win by 63 runs against India on the fourth day of the opening test at Galle today.

Daily Mirror News Alerts now on Whatsapp

Daily Mirror readers can now sign up to get news alerts sent directly to their mobile phones with a new service using the messaging app ‘Whatsapp’.