The presence of a large number of candidates has cost the election authorities dearly in terms of additional expenses for extra counting centres, documentation work, and ballot paper printing, an official said yesterday.

Commissioner General of Elections Saman Sri Ratnayake told Daily Mirror that the increase in the number of candidates had resulted in larger ballot papers varying sizes according to each electoral district. He said the number of counting centres had increased from 1713 last time to 2034 this time.

"All these mean extra costs for the election office. Yet, the actual increase can be known only after proper estimates are done following polling," he said.

The General Election will be conducted throughout the country tomorrow.

According to the Election Commission, 60 polling stations, mostly, housed at Buddhist temples previously had been shifted because of ‘Katina Pinkamas’, flood threats and accessibility issues for disabled voters.

Voting will take place at 13,421 polling stations across the country from 7 am to 4 pm tomorrow. This time, 5,464 candidates from registered political parties and 3,357 independent candidates are in the fray to represent 225 members of Parliament.

Polling stations closed for the 2024 Parliamentary Elections and counting of vote is to begin soon. According to the Election Commission, the counting of postal votes is set to commence at 4:15 p.m. with the general counting of ballots will begin around 7:15 p.m. after the ballot boxes arrive from the polling stations.

Three officials deployed on election duty, one police officer and two civil officers, have died suddenly from reported natural causes, the police said.

The first election results of the 2024 parliamentary elections will be released by 10 p.m. today, Commissioner General of Elections Saman Sri Ratnayake said.

The Election Commission has advised the public to refrain from photographing or filming any polling-related activities and uploading such images or videos on social media.

The Election Commission announced that the distribution of ballot boxes and essential stationery for the 2024 General Elections commenced today.

The Kahathuduwa Police launched an investigation following a complaint filed by a photographer from the Presidential Media Division (PMD), alleging that he was receiving threatening phone calls from the former Director General of the PMD.

The United States embassy in Sri Lanka today rescinded the travel restrictions for Arugam Bay on October 23.

There is a possibility of thundershowers exceeding 100 mm tomorrow after 2 p.m, Deputy Director of the Meteorology Department, Meril Mendis said. He noted that the parliamentary elections are scheduled to be held tomorrow and advised the people to go to the polling stations before the rains.

The Election Commission today announced the vote counting schedule for the general elections to be held on 14th of November.

All schools are to be handed over to the respective Grama Niladhari officers today (12) after classes end, in preparation for the parliamentary elections scheduled for Thursday (November 14), the Education Ministry said.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has initiated an investigation into the documentary telecast by Britain’s Channel 4 TV on Sri Lanka’s Easter Sunday bomb attacks in 2019.

The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) revealed that proposals to reduce electricity tariffs will be submitted to the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) by next week.

Sri Lanka has reported a notable increase in cases of Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease (HFMD) in recent days.

The formation of a low-pressure area over the south-west Bay of Bengal today may lead to thundershowers in most parts of the island from November 13, the Meteorology Department said.

Former MP Rohitha Abeygunawardhane became emotional during an election rally in Kalutara where he said, with tears in his eyes, that he had been with the people over the years. Abeygunawardhane said he will protect the people even as an Opposition MP in Parliament.

The National People's Power (NPP) is confident of winning a majority seats in Thursday's Parliamentary Election but will look at forming a national unity government with Parliamentarians representing the Tamil and Muslim communities, in order to achieve national unity, Minister Vijitha Herath told Daily Mirror last evening.

Former TNA MP M.A. Sumanthiran alleged that President Anura Kumara Dissanayake had brought several thousands of people in buses last evening all the way to Jaffna to participate in the NPP's political rally attended by the President.

Ahead of the Parliamentary elections, the Election Commission has launched an online system enabling voters to access their polling cards. Accordingly, the polling cards can be viewed via ‘On-line Registration’.

Price of an egg will rise to Rs 1000 if Sri Lanka fails to stabilize the economy, former President Ranil Wickremesinghe said yesterday. Mr. Wickremesinghe made this remark during his speech at an election rally in Hatton which he spoke both in lighter vein and with seriousness. However, he quickly turned serious when elaborating on the economy.

The Elections Commission announced that all campaign activities related to the parliamentary elections will conclude at midnight today. A silent period will begin then, prohibiting any campaign activities until election day.