www.themorning.lk epaper.themorning.lk www.themorning.lk epaper.themorning.lk www.aruna.lk epaper.aruna.lk www.aruna.lk epaper.aruna.lk THURSDAY, AUGUST 6, 2020 For verified information on the Quarantine Unit COVID-19 TOTAL CASES TOTAL CASES coronavirus (Covid-19) contact any 0112 112 705 ACTIVE CASES of the following authorities CASES IN Epidemiology Unit Health THE WORLD 18,829,269 Suwasariya 0112 695 112 PROTECT YOURSELF FROM 2,834 Promotion Ambulance DEATHS CASES DEATHS Bureau Service Govt. coronavirus hotline USA 4,934,917 160,804 COVID-19 DEATHS RECOVERED 1999 1990 0113071073 707,087 BRAZIL 2,817,473 96,326 INDIA 1,959,822 40,732 PRESIDENTIAL SPECIAL TASK FORCE FOR ESSENTIAL SERVICES RECOVERD RUSSIA 866,627 14,490 11 2,537 Telephone 0114354854, 0114733600 Fax 0112333066, 0114354882 12,022,987 S. AFRICA 521,318 8,884 Hotline 0113456200-4 Email [email protected] THE ABOVE STATISTICS286 ARE CONFIRMED UP UNTIL 3.10 P.M. ON 05 AUGUST 2020 SOURCE: HEALTH PROMOTION BUREAU Prez. and leaders vote! President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Prime Minister and Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa, United National Party (UNP) Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Leader Sajith Premadasa, Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) Leader Anura Kumara Dissnayake, and Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Leader R. Sampanthan cast their votes yesterday (5) Confident of 130- Counting votes plus seats: SLPP The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna Covid-19 begins today (SLPP) was confident z Results likely to be released by 2.30 p.m. of attaining above 130 seats in Parliament, BY SARAH HANNAN Election Secretariat Director The Morning learnt. General Saman Sri Rathnayake Senior SLPP Election Commission (EC) noted that in adherence to the health member and former MP Keheliya Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya guidelines to prevent the spread of Rambukwella said the party was fails to keep during the polls day wrap-up media Covid-19, the number of counting certain of winning 130-plus seats. briefing noted that the counting of centres were doubled this time. ballots will commence today (6) “In the 77 main counting centres, at 7 a.m. and 8 a.m. at the main 77 we have appointed 2,820 counting We will be the counting centres. halls, out of which 453 halls will be used for postal vote counting and ultimate victor: SJB 2,367 will be used to count the The Samagi Jana voters away Jaff na 67 ordinary votes. Balawegaya (SJB) Contd. on page 2 asserted that the party z z Vanni 73 would be the ultimate Countrywide voter Peaceful polling with victor as it is a young turnout of 70% minimum incidents Trincomalee party contesting the 73 election. Anuradhapura BY MAHEESHA MUDUGAMUWA 70 Polonnaruwa 72 Fear of the coronavirus pandemic did not keep large numbers of Sri Lankans Puttalam 64 ‘Mixed reaction’ by from heading to the polls to vote in the freshly concluded parliamentary Batticaloa 76 election yesterday (5) with a recorded countrywide voter turnout of 70%, Kurunegala voters likely: UNP according to the Election Commission (EC). 65 Matale 72 The United National Addressing the post-election press can even be viewed as 100% as the as violent incidents as Party (UNP) expects a conference held at the elections election was held in a very uncertain there was no such major Kandy 72 Digamadulla “mixed reaction” from headquarters, EC Chairman situation while the whole world was incident recorded with 73 voters in the results of the Mahinda Deshapriya said the facing a pandemic. Furthermore, the Commission or the Kegalle concluded parliamentary country saw a commendable voter the Elections Chief noted that the Police,” Deshpariya said. 70 Badulla election. turnout at yesterday’s elections, election was peacefully concluded Few incidents have been 74 despite the doubts raised by various with a minimum number of recorded from Kelaniya and Colombo 70 Moneragala parties that the country would see incidents relating to election Kilinochchi and the Police 75 Expecting to win a low voter turnout due to the violence recorded yesterday. are further investigating those Gampaha coronavirus pandemic. “The incidents recorded incidents, he added. 68 Ratnapura 71 He stressed that the 70% turnout cannot actually be identified Contd. on page 2 more seats: JVP Kalutara The Janatha 70% OVERALL VOTER TURNOUT 70 Hambantota 76 Vimukthi Peramuna GENERAL Galle (JVP) expected to win 70 Matara more seats at the new Highest turnout in ELECTION 71 Parliament than the last, Nuwara Eliya The Morning learnt. 75 “It’s hard to say this H’tota and Batty early but we are sure z Lowest turnout in Puttalam District of getting more seats than we had POLLS AMIDST COVID-19 in the last Parliament,” former JVP The overall voter turnout ended at 5 p.m. yesterday (5), The parliamentarian Bimal Ratnayake recorded in 12 electoral districts Morning learnt. Health guidelines properly followed: GMOA told The Morning. had crossed 70%, with the highest According to statistics, the lowest turnout of 76% observed in the voter turnout was recorded from the The Government Medical GMOA Vice President Dr. Sagara the country, the election officials have SEE FULL STORIES ON PAGE 2 Hambantota and Batticaloa Districts Puttalam District – 64%. Officers’ Association (GMOA) said Kannangara told The Morning that as followed the health guidelines given at the parliamentary election, which Contd. on page 2 it is satisfied with the level of health per reports submitted by the officials by the authorities, despite few lapses guidelines followed at polling stations attached to the GMOA who had reported in some areas. INCIDENTS RELATED TO 2020 GENERAL ELECTION around the country. visited the polling stations around Contd. on page 2 Improvement from ‘SF Lokka’ killed in EXPLOSION IN BEIRUT previous polls: Monitors Anuradhapura Two Lankans Notorious criminal gang Polling for the general election to yesterday, the Election Commission observation vehicles in all electoral member Eron Ranasinghe alias injured: SL appoint the ninth Parliament of Sri (EC) recorded a total of 758 violations districts. “SF Lokka” has been shot dead Lanka ended at 5 p.m. yesterday (5). of laws, while the People's Action for The Centre for Monitoring Election by unidentified gunmen, the Mission In comparison to the previous a Free and Fair Election (PAFFREL) Violence (CMEV) deployed 1,200 Police said. Two Sri Lankan nationals were elections, the incidents relating to recorded 143 complaints/incidents in observers at polling centres, 175-plus He had been travelling in a reportedly wounded in the catastrophic violation of election regulations and relation to 147 electoral law/general law counting observers at counting centres, car with another person when explosion that shook Beirut, the capital violence against political party offices violations between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. 90 field monitors, and 50 reporting, they came under gunfire near the travelling in the same car of Lebanon, on Tuesday (4), the Embassy and candidates had been less, the The Campaign for Free and Fair operations, and mobile team operators railway crossing at Dahaiyagama sustained injuries in the shooting of Sri Lanka in Lebanon said. election monitoring bodies observed. Elections (CaFFE) had deployed 2,200 at its Colombo headquarters. in Anuradhapura. and was hospitalised. Contd. on page 2 Between the period 6 a.m. and 2 p.m. poll monitors including 80 mobile Contd. on page 2 A woman who was also Contd. on page 2 2 the morning POLLS 2020/NEWS Thursday , August 6, 2020 Election day! PHOTOS PRADEEP DAMBARAGE, LALITH PERERA, SAMAN ABESIRIWARDANA, KRISHAN KARIYAWASAM, ESHAN DASANAYAKA Disinfection procedures being carried out at the entrance of a polling centre in Pamankada UNP candidate Ravi Karunanayake arriving at SLPP candidate Wijeyadasa the polling centre to cast Rajapakshe arriving in SLPP candidate Udaya Gammanpila arriving in Nawala to cast his vote his vote in Battaramulla Nawala to cast his vote The public wearing face masks at various polling centres across Colombo, SLPP candidate Dinesh Gunawardena Voters patiently waiting to cast their vote in Voters washing their hands before entering waiting in queue to cast their votes arriving in Narahenpita to cast his vote Ratmalana polling centres in Rajagiriya Contd. from page 1 crimes and charges. lira (£ 50.5 million or $ 66 million) of male candidates that got the chance to give did not disrupt the polling that took place Covid-19... SF Lokka had reportedly joined the emergency funds. interviews and deliver speeches during the inside the said polling stations. In addition, the EC ruled out any relation Army on 2 March 2007 and had reportedly Family members and relatives of Sri meetings. – Sarah Hannan between the election and the murder of deserted his post at the Special Forces Lankan expatriates in Lebanon, who wish There were several incidents where notorious criminal gang member Eron Regiment on 15 June 2015. to receive information with regard to the candidates and supporters attempted to Ranasinghe alias “SF Lokka”, claiming that He is also the main accused in the murder situation, can contact the Embassy office in influence the voters by the use of fear Confident... it was not election violence. of nightclub owner Wasantha de Zoysa in Beirut on +961 5769585 or e-mail address mongering or bribery, tarnishing the voters’ “We will definitely get more that 130. But However, the EC Chief further 2015. [email protected]. confidence in these candidates. we are hoping for 150. We cannot say yet, commended the support given by the health Alexander Wasantha Wickrama de Zoysa, Meanwhile, National Polls Observation as it is too early to make any predictions,” authorities and assured that all polling an ex-karate champion who is said to be the Centre National Organiser Rasanga he said.