Sri Lanka election could be decided by minority Tamils

SRI LANKANS crowded polling stations yesterday to choose between two Sinhalese war heroes — the president and his former army chief — in an election that could be decided by minority Tamils, who suffered most from the government offensive to end the civil conflict.

While voting among the Sinhalese majority appeared strong, there was less enthusiasm among Tamils, especially in their traditional northern bastions where the most intense fighting drove hundreds of thousands from their homes. Early morning explosions in the northern city of Jaffna were expected to further suppress turnout.

But there were no reports of major violence by the time polls closed in the afternoon. The top opposition candidate, however, was not allowed to cast a ballot because his name was not on voter registration lists.

Though it has been just eight months since President Mahinda Rajapaksa and retired Gen Sarath Fonseka declared victory in the quarter-century war against the Tamil Tiger rebels, many voters were more focused on the stagnant economy than the newfound peace.

“Life is difficult, the cost of living is high. We need a change of government to stop corruption,” said Pathirannnehelage Priyalal, a 40-year-old businessman in the town of Gampaha, north of Colombo, who said he voted for Fonseka. “There has been no relief even after the war and if this government remains, even finding food will be difficult.”

Rajapaksa, however, still retains strong support for his war victory and rights groups accuse him of misusing state resource — including the state media — to bolster his campaign.

First results are not expected until later today.