Sri Lanka parliamentary polls close

Polling has passed off in Sri Lanka's post war parliamentary elections amid reports of violence, with President Mahinda Rajapaksa's ruling alliance expected to win with a clear majority.

Voters lined up at polling booths as the nationwide parliamentary elections opened today throughout the island. Results are due on Friday.

Police had deployed 60,000 constables and kept another 20,000 military personnel on alert to deal with any major outbreak of violence during the voting period.

However, independent observers said the nine-hours of balloting were marred by a shooting incident and reports of intimidation.

The president cast his ballot in his home village of Medamulana south of the country.

Rajapaksa, 64, is seeking a two-thirds majority in parliament which would allow him to change the constitution.

He remains popular among Sri Lankans after bringing the 26-year conflict with the separatist Tamil Tigers to an end last year.

The Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) reported 286 incidents of poll-related violence with most complaints being against Rajapaksa's United People's Freedom Alliance.

With more than 14 million eligible voters, the CMEV estimated the turnout at between 45 and 50 percent, much lower than the 75 percent recorded in the January presidential election.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=122796§ionid=351020406.