Sri Lankans decide today
[April 2, 2004 - 5.00 GMT]

Sri Lanka will today, April 2, 2004, decide on its 13th 225-member legislature. More than 12 million voters will elect 196 parliamentarians, while a further 29 will be elected from the national list. The new legislature is due to meet on April 22, 2004. 

Voting will take place throughout the country beginning from 7 am till 4 pm under tight security. A record number of 5698 candidates are contesting today’s elections, from 24 registered political parties and 192 independent groups. The first election results are expected to be released by 2 am (local time) tomorrow.

Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake has said that if any irregularities occur in polling centres, he will call for a re-poll, which would delay a final result. “The poll at that respective area will be declared ‘null’ and a fresh poll will be ordered,” he said. 

Meanwhile President Chandrika Kumaratunga and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe in separate statements yesterday, called upon the masses to ensure a ‘free and fair’ trouble free election. 

President Kumaratunga in her statement also said that, a free poll is a democratic right of every Sri Lankan citizen. “I urge you’ll not to fall pray to any provocative acts”. She also added that necessary measures have been taken to maintain law and order in the country today, and thereafter. 

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Last Updated Date: April 2, 2004  - 5.00 GMT.