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Batticaloa poll peaceful

COLOMBO: On Monday, election to nine local bodies’ in Batticaloa district, including the town’s municipality, passed off peacefully. An estimated 51 per cent of the electorate voted.

The election, held after 14 years, is politically significant as parts of the district were recaptured by the Sri Lankan military last year from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.

One of the highlights of the election was the entry of the LTTE’s rebel faction, Tamil Makkal Viduthlai Pulikkal led by Pilliyan into mainstream politics.

Barring the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress, most of the other main parties in the country including the main opposition United National Party have stayed away from the election on the ground that free and fair polls were not feasible under the present conditions in the district.

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