By

Madura Ranwala

Election Commissioner (EC) Mahinda Deshapriya yesterday declared that the Presidential Election 2015 had been peaceful save some minor incidents of assaults and two explosions near polling stations in Jaffna and Vavuniya.

Polls Chief thanked all the people in the country, police officers, tri-forces, journalists, presidential candidates, their supporters, election officers and others, who had helped him conducte a peaceful election.

He said no major incidents had been reported and wished the assault victims a speedy recovery.

About 328 complaints had been received since 10.00 a.m. to five in the evening yesterday and asked the public not to take seriously rumours about malpractices; if anyone entered acounting centre forcibly results there would be declared null and void, the EC promised.

It was not possible to reveal the voter turnout accurately until the counting was over, Deshapriya said.

Counting of postal votes had commenced by 4.30 p.m. and first result was expected around 10.00 last night, he said, adding that he could not say exactly when the final result would be released. The counting of votes had commenced at 7.00 pm yesterday, he said.

Courtesy:The Island