Author: Buzzer Editorial

Voting in Sri Lanka’s Presidential Election concluded at 04.00 pm today. Nearly, 17,140,354 voters exercised their voting rights at 13,421 polling stations across the island.According to the National Election Commission, the first result of the election, which is the postal votes, is expected to be released before midnight today.

The National Election Commission has requested the public not to be concerned over the use of pencils to mark ballot papers in the 2024 Presidential Election.Issuing a statement, the Election Commission said that all polling stations were issued pens to mark ballots.However, the Commission has received complaints of voters being provided with pencils, raising concerns over the validity of the ballots.The Election Commission clarified that ballot papers marked with pencils will be valid and for the public not to worry in this regard.Instructions have also been issued to polling stations to use pens for the marking of ballot papers, the…

Dan Priyasad, who arrived at the Katunayake Airport to leave for Dubai, was turned back by the officials of the Katunayake Airport Immigration Department last night due to a atravel ban imposed on him.Priyasad had arrived at the Katunayake airport to board the Emirates flight EK-653 which was to leave for Dubai at 08.35 yesterday.Dan Priyasad has been named as the sixth accused in the case of attacking the peaceful protest at the Galle Face Green in Colombo on May 9, 2022.

The first result of the 2024 Presidential election can be released by midnight today, Election Commissioner General Saman Sri Ratnayake said.He told the media that the release of the first election result, whether from postal or polled votes, depends on the efficiency of the officers at the counting centres.However, based on past experiences, the first result is likely to be announced by midnight today, he added.Voting for the 2024 Presidential Elections began at 7.00 am in 13,421 polling stations across the island.

The district-level voter turnout percentages for the 2024 Presidential Election as at 2.00 p.m. today have been reported with several districts already seeing a turnout of over 60 percent. Accordingly, the voter turnout percentages of several districts as at 2.00 p.m. today (21) are as follows: Colombo – 60%Gampaha – 62%Kalutara – 60%Nuwara-Eliya – 70%Galle – 61%Matara – 64%Hambantota – 60%Mannar – 60%Badulla – 59%Ratnapura – 60%Kegalle – 60%Ampara – 60%Trincomalee – 55%Puttalam – 57%Monaragala – 65%Anuradhapura – 70%Kandy – 65%Matale – 68%Jaffna – 49%Polonnaruwa- 65% Vavuniya- 62% Mullaitivu- 57%Kilinochchi- 56%Kandy- 65%Voting for the presidential election commenced at 7.00 a.m. this morning at 13,421…

Nearly 8,000 local and international observers are actively engaged in monitoring the presidential election process. This includes 116 international observers, among whom are 78 from the European Union and 22 from the Commonwealth. Additionally, there are 9 observers from the Asian Election Observation Network.The National Election Commission has confirmed the participation of 7 representatives from South Asian regional countries in this year’s election observation process.These observers are covering all 22 election districts to ensure a transparent and fair election.To ensure their safety, a special program has also been implemented.Among the local observers, over 4,000 are from the People’s Movement for a…

The number of complaints received by the Election Commission regarding the 2024 Presidential Poll has further increased.The commission issued a statement stating that the total number of election complaints has increased to 5,551.Meanwhile, a total of 337 complaints were reported within the last 24 hours. A majority of those complaints have been received related to election law violations and the figure is 336.Meanwhile, the Election Commission says that 4,929 of the total number of complaints received have been resolved thus far.

The district-level voter turnout for the 2024 Presidential Election thus far has already exceeded 20 percent in several districts, according to reports.Accordingly, the voter turnout percentages of several districts as at 10.00 a.m. this morning (21) are as follows: Kalutara – 32%Nuwara-Eliya – 30 Mullaitivu – 25%Vavuniya – 30%Ratnapura – 20%Kegalle – 15%Ampara – 30%Mannar – 29% Gampaha – 25%Voting for the presidential election is currently taking place at 13,421 polling stations across the island from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. today (20).

A special gazette notification has been issued declaring the supply of electricity and all related services as well as the supply or distribution of petroleum products and fuel, as essential services.Presidential Secretary Saman Ekanayake has issued the Extraordinary Gazette notification yesterday (20) on the directive of President Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Israel killed a top Hezbollah commander and other senior figures in the Lebanese movement in an airstrike on Beirut on Friday, vowing to press on with a new military campaign until it is able to secure the area around the Lebanese border.The Israeli military and a security source in Lebanon said Ibrahim Aqil had been killed with other senior members of an elite Hezbollah unit in the airstrike, sharply escalating the year-long conflict between Israel and the Iran-backed group.Hezbollah confirmed Aqil’s death in a statement just after midnight that called him “one of its top leaders,” without providing details of…