Sri Lankan voters demand economic stability as parliamentary polls start

Sri Lankan voters, who went to polling booths to vote for a parliamentary election on Monday, urged political parties to bring in economic stability and provide immediate relief to the high cost of living which has affected the country's poor.

Voters, who were turning out in large numbers to elect a new 225-member parliament and a majority government, said percentages for the ruling United National Party (UNP) led by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe were higher compared to the opposition United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) whose main candidate is former president Mahinda Rajapakse.

"The UNP under its good governance pledge seems to have gained results in the last eight months. The government is doing something and we are happy about that," a voter, R. De Silva told Xinhua outside a polling station in capital Colombo.

"We have voted but all we want is economic stability and freedom no matter who wins," a J. Lakshman said.

Sri Lanka's newly-formed coalition, the United National Front ( UNF) led by Wickremesinghe, has pledged to end corruption and re- develop the nation in the coming 60 months. The party has vowed to defeat Rajapakse and form a stable government under its good governance pledge.

Rajapakse however has expressed confidence in winning Monday's polls and looks to make a comeback by being the country's new prime minister. He has pledged to bring in immediate relief to the poor and focus more on education and fight corruption.

Sri Lanka started voting in the early hours of Monday with over 70,000 security personnel deployed in the island's 22 districts. At least two armed police officers have been deployed to guard each polling booth along with foreign observers.

Final election results are expected to be announced on Tuesday. Endi