Sri Lanka Imposes Curfew as Presidential Elections Conclude

A curfew has been imposed in Sri Lanka from 10 pm to 6 am as a precaution after the presidential election. President Ranil Wickremesinghe issued the order. The voter turnout was around 75%, lower than the previous turnout of 83%. Counting of votes is ongoing.

Sri Lankan authorities have announced a curfew from 10 pm tonight until 6 am on Sunday as a precautionary measure following the presidential election, according to police sources.

The order was decreed by President Ranil Wickremesinghe via an official gazette. The curfew coincides with the ongoing counting of votes, with preliminary results yet to be released. Election officials have estimated that the voter turnout was around 75 percent, a decrease from the 83 percent turnout in the previous presidential election of November 2019.

Polling took place from 7 am to 4 pm local time at over 13,400 polling stations across 22 electoral districts, with more than 17 million registered voters participating. This election featured a record number of candidates, with 38 individuals contesting.

(With inputs from agencies.)