There were at least 139 election related violations across the island, between the open of polls at 7am and 1pm, according to the Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV).
The majority of violations were illegal campaigning as well as intimidation and influencing of voters.
The highest number of violations were reported in the Southern district of Matara, the Western district of Gampaha and the North-Western district of Puttalam. High numbers of violations were also reported in the Southern district of Hambantota, the North-Central district of Anuradhapura and Monaragala district in the Uva province.
Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s party, the Sri Lanka Podu Jana Peramuna (SLPP), were identified with the vast majority of the violations - 91 compared to 31 by Sajith Premadasa’s New Democratic Front (NDF).
Government officials were also responsible for at least 9 violations.
Incidents included a bus carrying displaced Muslim voters being fired at, and Buddhist monks influencing voters using rituals.
Around 50 SLPP supporters were also reported to have been campaigning outside a Tamil school used as a polling station in Kandy.
See here for CMEV’s election communiqué.
