Sri Lankan polls most peaceful: Official

Colombo, Aug 18: The general elections in Sri Lanka to elect a new government were most peaceful and were conducted without any serious incident, senior officials said.

Supreme Court (retd.) Judge Priyantha R. Perera, chairman of the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL), told the Island that Monday's polls were most peaceful national level poll conducted during the past couple of decades.

He said the people enjoyed the freedom to vote for a party and candidates of their choice.

Police and election monitors reported a few incidents, but there was no serious incident or any organised attempts to interfere with the voting, the report quoted Justice Perera as saying.

Additional Elections Commissioner R.M.A.L. Ratnayake also said the polls were conducted peacefully, another report in The Island said.

He compared the polls with the last presidential election in January, and said the parliamentary election on Monday were the most peaceful electoral contest during the past couple of decades.

Monday's polls saw a battle between Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe led United National Front (UNF) and the United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) which has former president Mahinda Rajapakse as its main candidate.

IANS