Brisk polling in Amparai local election reported

[TamilNet, Thursday, 30 March 2006, 07:04 GMT]
Brisk polling is reported in the elections for the twelve local authorities in the Amparai district, which began Thursday morning at 7 a.m. At noon about fifty percent of voters have registered their franchise. Polling to four Tamil speaking local authorities, Sammanthurai, Thirukovil, Karaitivu and Alaiyadivembu and eight Sinhala local authorities, Amparai UC, and PS of Damana, Dehiyattakendiya, Uhana, Maha Oya, Namal Oya, Padiyattalawa and Laguhala in the Amparai district are in progress, election department officials in the south-eastern district said.

Karaitivu PS is one of the newly carved out local authorities in the Amparai district.

Invalids and elders were seen in the queue with enthusiasm to cast their franchise in the local election, which is being held after several years in the district, TamilNet sources in Ampara said.

Of the 18 local authorities in Amparai district elections to six including Kalmunai MC and Ps of Addalaichchenai, Akkaraipattu, Pottuvil, Navithanveli and Ninthavur have been postponed following court orders.

Mr.C.Pathmanathan, Amparai district Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian who is critically ill came to a polling station to cast his vote aided by his supporters, the sources said.