Sri Lanka decides - Pres Poll 2024

08:59 PM

President-elect Anura Kumara Dissanayake said that a Parliamentary election would be required soon, though he did not specify a timeline. 

Dissanayake said this after being named President following the counting of Preferential votes in the 2024 Presidential Election.

06:22 PM

The final result of the 2024 presidential election is scheduled to be announced at 7:00 p.m. today by the Election Commission.

04:54 PM

Anura Kumara Dissanayake swept the 15 of the 22 districts at the end of the first round of counting at the Presidential Elections 2024. 

Sajith Premadasa meanwhile claimed the Nuwara Eliya, Badulla, Digamadulla, Batiicaloa, Trincolmalee, Vanni and Jaffna districts. 

02:53 PM

Anura Kumara Dissanayake tops first round of voting with 5,634,915 votes (42.31%), while Sajith Premadasa received 4,363,035 votes (32.76%) with Ranil Wickremesinghe polling 2,299,767 votes (17.27%), Election Commission Chairman Saman Sri Ratnayake said. 

02:40 PM

NPP candidate Anura Kumara Dissanayake has won the Polonnaruwa, Anuradhapura, Hambantota, Ratnapura, Galle and Colombo districts so far, while SJB candidate Sajith Premadasa has topped voting in the Jaffna, Vanni, Trincomalee and Digamadulla districts.

01:45 PM

Elections Commission Chairman R.L.A.M. Ratnayake announced that a second preference count will be conducted, as no candidate secured over 50% of the votes in the Presidential election, in line with the Presidential Elections Act of 1981.

11:44 AM

The island-wide curfew imposed at 10 pm last night will not be extended, Police said.

11:34 AM

Anura and Sajith both cross 2,000,000 vote mark 

NPP candidate Anura Kumara Dissanayake continues to lead the poll with 2,970,203 votes, while Sajith Premadasa has received 2,342,486 votes.

10:57 AM

NPP presidential candidate Anura Kumara Dissanayake came top in the Polonnaruwa District obtaining 130,880 (46.12%) votes.

10:20 AM

The ongoing 2024 Presidential election is the most peaceful election in history, PAFFREL Executive Director Rohana Hettiarachchi said. 

09:15 AM

Sajith Premadasa polled the highest in the Vanni district, with 95,422 (43.92%) votes. 

08:40 AM

NPP presidential candidate Anura Kumara Dissanayake secured victory in the Kamburupitiya polling division in the Matara District receiving 35,076 votes.

07:29 AM

Anura Kumara Dissanayake has secured a strong lead in the postal votes for Tangalla during the 2024 presidential election, receiving 59,117 votes.

07:15 AM

TNA MP M. Sumanthiran congratulated NPP Presidential candidate Anura Kumara Dissanayake as he closes in on victory in the 2024 Presidential Election. 

06:54 AM

Another big win for Anura Kumara Dissanayake in the Galagedara polling division in the Kandy district, winning 42.80% of the vote. Dissanayaka also claimed the Mulkirigala and Beliatta polling divisions in Hambantota, where Namal Rajapaksa finished fourth in both divisions. 

06:35 AM

Curfew extended

The island-wide curfew, which was imposed from 10 pm last night, has been extended till 12 noon today, Public Security Minister Tiran Alles said.  

05:39 AM

A sweeping win for Anura Kumara Dissanayake with the Postal voting in Gampaha, claiming a massive 65.6% of the votes. 

04:28 AM

AKD wins Matara polling division

NPP presidential candidate Anura Kumara Dissanayake secured victory in the Matara polling division in Matara District.

03:44 AM

Ranil wins Batticaloa

President Ranil Wickremesinghe tops the postal voting results for Batticaloa securing 5,967 votes.

03:43 AM

Ariyanethiran leads in Nallur

Ariyanethiran Pakkiyaselvam has taken the lead in the Nallur electorate, receiving 10,097 votes.

02:54 AM

Nuwaraeliya goes to Anura

Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the National People's Power (NPP) presidential candidate, secured the postal votes in the Nuwara Eliya district.

02:47 AM

Anura wins 9 out of 10 districts in postal voting so far

National People's Power (NPP) presidential candidate Anura Kumara Dissanayake came victorous in nine out of ten districts in postal voting resluts issued so far.

02:27 AM

Matale, Colombo goes to Anura

NPP presidential candidate Anura Kumara Dissanayake secured victory in the postal voting of Matale and Colombo Districts.

01:42 AM

Sajith wins Vanni District postal votes

SJB presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa has won the postal voting in the Vanni district.

Sajith Premadasa obtained 4,899 votes, Ranil Wickremesinghe 4,257, and NPP presidential candidate Anura Kumara Dissanayake 2,092.

01:22 AM

NPP presidential candidate Anura Kumara Dissanayake secured victory in the postal voting of Polonnaruwa and Hambantota Districts.

Anura Kumara obtained 11,768 postal votes, Sajith Premadasa 4,120, Ranil Wickremesinghe 2,762 and Namal Rajapaksa 188 postal votes in Polonnaruwa District.

Anura Kumara obtained 14,482 postal votes, Sajith Premadasa 3,397, Ranil Wickremesinghe 2,502 and Namal Rajapaksa 819 postal votes in Hambantota District.

12:30 AM

The Sri Lanka Police have announced that they will not issue curfew passes during the period.  However, the police said that officials' IDs would be accepted as curfew passes for essential and emergency services.

12:02 AM

The Election Commission has released the first official results of the 2024 Presidential Election, recording the postal votes of the Ratnapura District. 

Anura Kumara Dissanayake has received 19,185 votes, while Ranil Wickremesinghe has obtained 6,641 votes, and Sajith Premadasa has garnered 4,675 votes. 

In addition, Namal Rajapaksa has secured 500 votes.

11:15 PM

The National People's Power (NPP) said they were expecting the Election Commission and its officials to act correctly in the process of counting and issuing the final results without leaving room for any malpractices.

09:45 PM

Island-wide police curfew imposed

Island-wide police curfew has been imposed with effect from 10 pm to 6 am tomorrow (22).

08:16 PM

The Sri Lanka Police have urged citizens to celebrate the results peacefully, regardless of the outcome of the presidential election, and to support law enforcement in maintaining order throughout the country.

Police request the public to report any breaches of peace to police hotlines; 119, 118, 107 (North/East), 011 202 7149 or 011 201 3243 and fax number 111 239 9104.

08:13 PM

Monday declared special holiday

The government has declared September 23 (Monday) as a special government holiday.

08:12 PM

Security beefed up at Bandaranaike International Airport

06:26 PM

District-level voter turnout released

Notable turnouts include Nuwara-Eliya and Gampaha with 80% each, followed by Polonnaruwa, Kandy, and Hambantota at 78%. Monaragala, Kalutara, Ratnapura, and several others reported turnout around 75%. Meanwhile, Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu recorded the lowest turnout at 68%.

05:15 PM

Most peaceful election ever: Election Commission Chairman 

04:29 PM

The Election Commission said the ballot papers marked with pencils would not be rejected and therefore voters should not harbour unnecessary concerns  

04:07 PM

Postal vote counting will begin between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m.

04:04 PM

Voting for the presidential election ended at 4:00 PM.

04:00 PM

The first result of the 2024 Presidential election can be released by midnight today, Election Commissioner General Saman Sri Ratnayake said.

12:22 PM

Former Sri Lanka Army Commander, Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka cast his vote at the Sri Sudarshanarama Viharaya in Kelaniya.

10:45 AM

National People’s Power (NPP) presidential candidate Anura Kumara Dissanayake cast his vote at the polling station set up at the Saykoji Montessori in Panchikawatte.

09:36 AM

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa, cast his vote at the Sri Vivekaramaya Viharaya polling station in Rajagiriya.

09:20 AM

Presidential candidate Namal Rajapaksa cast his vote at the Medamulana D.A Rajapaksa Vidyalaya.

09:06 AM

Presidential candidate Ranil Wickremesinghe cast his vote at the College House polling center at Colombo University.

07:18 AM

Polling begins at 13,421 polling stations islandwide from 7.00 am to 4.00 pm today. 

06:15 AM

7.00 a.m - 2024 presidential election voting begins. 

Before arriving at the polling station, voters must present one of the following official identification documents:

- National Identity Card (NIC)

- Valid passport

- Valid driving license

- Senior citizens' identity card

- Government pensioners' identity card

- Identity card for clergy

- Temporary identity card issued by the Election Commission, available through your local Grama Niladhari

The Election Commission has also emphasized that illegal activities, such as using mobile phones, taking photos, recording videos, carrying firearms, and smoking or consuming alcohol, are strictly prohibited at polling stations.