UPDATE - Sri Lankans vote in snap polls to elect lawmakers

UPDATES WITH LATEST POLLING PERCENTAGE

By Alperen Aktas

ISTANBUL (AA) – Millions of Sri Lankans thronged the polling stations across the country on Thursday to elect a new parliament for a five-year term, as turn out crossed the 50% mark in several districts till 2 p.m. (local time).

Ratunpura, the capital of the Sabaragamuwa province, and the country’s tea hub Nuwara Eliya recorded the highest figure of 55%, followed by Gampaha district with 52%, local English news website Newswire reported.

Voting began with polling stations across the country opening at 7 a.m. local time (0130GMT).

Over 17 million voters are eligible to participate, choosing among more than 8,000 candidates competing for 225 parliamentary seats.

Of 225 total seats, there will be a direct election on 196 seats in 22 constituencies under a proportional representation system, while the remaining 29 seats will be allocated according to the island-wide proportional vote secured by each party.

Individual lawmakers get elected based on the preferential votes cast in their favor. Each voter is entitled to mark three individual preferences.

A majority of 113 seats is required to form the government.

Election Commission Chairman R.L.A.M. Rathnayake urged voters to come early as the Meteorology Department warned of heavy afternoon rains that could impact voter turnout.

Polling will close at 4 p.m. local time (1030GMT).

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, popularly known as AKD, who was elected in September, dissolved the parliament a day after he assumed office.

Analysts say the parliamentary election is realistically a continuation of the presidential election.

The snap polls are seen as AKD’s bid to “strengthen his power through parliament, especially if he is to implement his pledges” made ahead of the presidential election, Munza Mushtaq, a journalist based in the capital Colombo, told Anadolu.

A police officer and two civil officials, who were deployed on election duty, died of natural causes in different parts of the country.

According to police spokesman Nihal Thalduwa, the officials had fallen ill while on election duty, and died due to natural causes, such as a heart attack.