Minor incidents reported so far

Several minor incidents were reported during the first few hours since voting began at 7 this morning in the 2015 Presidential election.

The Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) said that brisk voting was seen in the South till 10.30 this morning while in the North the voter turnout was low.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa, one of the two main candidates at this election, was among those who had cast their votes this morning.

CMEV said that while the North saw a low voter turnout this morning, they expect it to pick up this afternoon before the 4pm deadline.

In Nawalapitiya a polling agent was not allowed to enter the polling centre, CMEV said, adding that several other incidents were also reported in the area.

CMEV said that there was also confusion of if a pencil or pen should be used to mark the ballot paper despite the Elections Commissioner saying yesterday that the pen provided by the Elections department at the polling booth should only be used.

According to CMEV, while Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya had said that only a pen will be used at all polling booths, in some areas voters had found that pencils were given to mark the ballot papers.

The local election monitoring group also noted that in Nattandiya, Samurdhi officers were engaged in election propaganda work today in violation of election laws.

Meanwhile the Campaign for a Free and Fair Election (CaFFE) said that in Haputala an incident was reported where UNP supporters had threatened UPFA supporters and in Batticaloa supporters of former Eastern Province Chief Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan had threatened voters.

However, overall, the local election monitors said that the election was so far peaceful with no major incidents reported.