Voting Underway In Sri Lanka To Elect New President
Voting is underway on Saturday in Sri Lanka to elect a new President. A record number of 35 candidates are in the fray including former defence minister Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Polling stations opened at 7:00 am local time.
The voting is underway since 7 a.m. and around 1.6 crore people are voting in the presidential polls. This is the first big election in Sri Lanka after the Easter attacks on churches and hotels in April this year.
Security has been beefed up across the country in view of the presidential elections. The Election Commission has deployed more than 60,000 police personnel to conduct the election peacefully. For the first time, in these polls, 26-inch ballot paper and large ballot boxes are being used. This election is being described as the most expensive in the history of Sri Lanka. Thirty-five candidates are contesting the presidential polls, but the main contest is between Gotabaya Rajapaksa of Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna party and Sajith Premadasa of the United National Party. Gotabaya Rajapaksa has served as the Defence Minister of the country, while Sajith Premadasa is a Cabinet Minister at present. The main issues in this election are national security, terrorism, end of corruption, strength of the economy, poverty, foreign policy, education and women and social welfare. The new President will face several challenges. Voting in the presidential polls will close at 5 p.m. on Saturday and the results will be declared on Sunday. Watch the full report here:
Security has been beefed up across the country in view of the presidential elections. The Election Commission has deployed more than 60,000 police personnel to conduct the election peacefully. For the first time, in these polls, 26-inch ballot paper and large ballot boxes are being used. This election is being described as the most expensive in the history of Sri Lanka. Thirty-five candidates are contesting the presidential polls, but the main contest is between Gotabaya Rajapaksa of Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna party and Sajith Premadasa of the United National Party. Gotabaya Rajapaksa has served as the Defence Minister of the country, while Sajith Premadasa is a Cabinet Minister at present. The main issues in this election are national security, terrorism, end of corruption, strength of the economy, poverty, foreign policy, education and women and social welfare. The new President will face several challenges. Voting in the presidential polls will close at 5 p.m. on Saturday and the results will be declared on Sunday. Watch the full report here:
Voting underway in #SriLanka to elect a new #President today. A record number of 35 candidates are in the fray including former defense minister #GotabayaRajapaksa. Polling stations opened at 7:00 am local time... pic.twitter.com/Uau4it46bC
— GoNewsIndia (@GoNews_India) November 16, 2019
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