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Sri Lanka begins voting for parliamentary polls amidst tight security

Xinhua, August 17, 2015 Adjust font size:

Sri Lankan voters on Monday queued up to cast their votes for a parliamentary election amidst tight security to elect a new 225 member parliament and a new government.

In a special statement, the Department of Elections requested the nation to cast their votes early and go to the polling booths with a valid identification card.

Around 15 million people are expected to cast their votes in the island nation on Monday in over 12,000 polling centers which have been set up in 22 districts.

Voting commenced at 7 a.m. local time and will end at 4. p.m.

An estimated 75,000 police officers and Special Task Forces have been deployed across the country to maintain law and order along with over 50 foreign observers being present at polling booths.

The parliamentary elections which was announced by President Maithripala Sirisena in June after he dissolved parliament just six months after being elected to power will see a close battle 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 the North Western Province of Kurunegala.

Rajapakse is looking at making a political comeback and is eyeing to be the nation's new prime minister if the opposition wins majority in the polls.

The Department of Elections has said that voting results are expected to be announced on Tuesday afternoon. Endi