The results of Sri Lanka's parliamentary elections, which started today morning, are expected to be announced by midnight, the authorities said.
Polling will conclude at 4.00 p.m., following which the ballot boxes will be taken to the counting centres, the Daily Mirror reported.
The counting will begin with the postal votes.Polling commenced at 7.00 a.m and has been peaceful so far with no major incidents of violence being reported from any part of the country, polls monitors said.
However, two people believed to be the brothers of a candidate in Sabaragamuwa province's Rambukkana district were arrested for distributing leaflets bearing the the candidate's number near a polling booth, police said.
An estimated 75,000 police officers and special task forces have been deployed across the country to maintain law and order. Over 50 foreign observers are present at various polling booths.
Around 15 million people are expected to cast their votes at over 12,000 polling centres.President Maithripala Sirisena announced the parliamentary elections in June after he dissolved parliament just six months after being elected.
A close battle is on the cardds between the United National Front (UNF) coalition and the opposition United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA).The UNF is led by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe while the UPFA has former president Mahinda Rajapakse contesting as its main candidate from Kurunegala province.
(IANS)