• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

DATE=10/10/2000

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=LANKA/POLLS UPDATE (L-O)

NUMBER=2-267708

BYLINE=VANDANA CHOPRA

DATELINE=COLOMBO

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Vote counting has begun in Sri Lanka's parliamentary elections,

amid widespread allegations of vote rigging and reports of violence. Vandana Chopra has the details from Colombo.

TEXT: Sri Lankan state radio says voter turnout was more than 70 percent. But the Center for Monitoring Election Violence, an independent monitoring

group, says there were reports from more than 210 of the 9500 polling centers of serious election violations. A statement from the monitoring group says the nature and extent of these violations is so widespread and serious as to render the final outcome in these areas meaningless.

The main opposition, United National Party, also expressed grave concern

about voting irregularities in a number of areas.

Meanwhile, streets of capital Colombo were deserted, as a result of a seven hour islandwide curfew.

More than 40-thousand policemen and paramilitary personnel guarded polling places throughout the country, after a bloody election campaign that killed more than 60 people.

Political analysts say a close contest is expected between the ruling

Peoples Alliance coalition and the main opposition, United National Party.

There was, however, no voting in some parts of the country's north and east

controlled by the Tamil Tiger rebels.

Military officials say several civilians were injured, as rebel guerillas

shelled densely populated areas in the northern Jaffna peninsula. The military spokesperson says some artillery shells also fell near the

peninsula's main vote counting center in Jaffna city.

As the country went to polls, the world's first woman prime minister and one of Sri Lanka's best known politicians died of a heart attack. Former three-time Sri Lankan prime minister, Sirimavo Bandaranaike, who was 84, died on her way back to Colombo after voting in her home district. She had gone there to cast her ballot in support of President Chandrika Kumaratunga, Mrs. Bandaranaike's daughter.

Independent analysts say the former prime minister's death was unlikely to swing a sympathy vote for the ruling coalition. (SIGNED)

NEB/VC/FC