News
Commissioner General of Elections defends counting process amid claims of delays and discrepancies in preferential vote count
By Rathindra Kuruwita
The process of counting votes polled at the 21 September presidential election had been complex unlike in the past, Saman Sri Rathnayake, Commissioner General of Elections, told The Island yesterday (26).
“Even the last candidate had at least one vote in each counting centre. This means we would need more time to declare result” he said.
However, Rathnayake denied claims that there had been an inordinate delay in the issuance of results. “Given how complex and sensitive this election was, we told everyone that we would do our best to ensure the accuracy of the results.
The Commissioner General of Elections told The Island that the number of rejected votes had increased compared to recent presidential elections. In 2019, there had about 135,000 rejected votes, he said. This time the number had increased to over 300,000. “This is about 2.2 percent of the votes cast,” he said.
Rathnayake said they had counted the preferential votes for the first time as regards a presidential election.
Anura Kumara Dissanayake had received 105,264 more votes in the second count. Sajith Premadasa secured 167,867 more votes in the second.
“A lot of people say that so few people have cast preferential votes. However, you must remember that the 273,141 votes came from 25 percent of the valid votes. About 10 percent have cast preferential votes. We didn’t look at 75 percent of the votes which went to the first two candidates.
Commenting on allegations that officials at some counting centres had commenced the preferential vote count on their own without waiting for instructions from the Election Commission, the Commissioner General of Elections denied such allegations.
“We authorise representatives of political parties and election monitors to stay at counting centres until the process is over. There were 1,713 counting centres. It is also obvious that counting in all those centres can’t start at the same time. Some counting centres had more ballots to count. There are about 40 officials in each counting centre. There are also representatives from each party/candidate (up to five per each). There are two representatives from the People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections and Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) – these are election monitoring bodies,” he said.
By 22 September noon, the Election Commission had decided to go for a second count, Ratnayake said. “If someone had left the counting centres before the process ended, that is their problem. They have not done their duty. The Chief Counting Officer can make his or her staff stay, but he or she can’t ask representatives from parties/candidates to stay in the centre. Parties must appoint responsible people. We have other things to do than run after party agents at counting centres,” he said.The Commissioner General of Elections said that he was very disappointed at statements made by some politicians who insinuated that counting of preferential votes started in secrecy.
The Sri Lanka Navy rescued a fisherman from a local fishing trawler that encountered distress due to adverse weather conditions off the eastern coast of Sri Lanka.
The rescue operation took place on 17 July 2026, approximately 15 nautical miles off Pothuvil. The operation was launched following information received by the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) Colombo.
In response, the Sri Lanka Navy deployed the Offshore Patrol Vessel SLNS Vijayabahu along with additional craft to conduct a search operation in the designated sea area, where they successfully located the distressed fisherman.
Following the rescue, the individual was brought aboard SLNS Vijayabahu, where naval personnel administered preliminary first aid. He was subsequently brought to the mainland and rushed for further medical attention.
Meanwhile, the Navy, along with the coordination of MRCC Colombo, remains constantly prepared to swiftly respond to the eventualities faced by maritime and fishing communities operating within the island’s Search and Rescue Region (SRR).
The countrywide dengue outbreak has intensified, with the death toll rising to 50, by July 16, as the number of reported infections surpassed 73,000, according to the National Dengue Control Unit (NDCU).
The country has recorded 73,455 dengue cases so far this year, with the case fatality rate standing at 0.07 percent, highlighting the severity of the ongoing outbreak.
The Western Province continues to remain the worst affected region, accounting for more than half of the total cases, with 38,700 infections. The Gampaha District has recorded the highest number of cases in the province with 15,341, followed closely by Colombo with 14,625.
The Southern Province has reported 11,382 cases, while the Sabaragamuwa and Central provinces have each recorded more than 6,000 infections.
Dengue cases have shown a sharp increase in recent months, with June recording the highest monthly total of 21,538 cases, while July has already reported 18,076 infections. In comparison, 8,590 cases were reported in May, and 5,651 in April.
Health authorities have identified 175 Medical Officer of Health (MOH) areas as high-risk locations during the 27th epidemiological week. An average of 2,677 new dengue cases are being reported daily, prompting authorities to intensify prevention and mosquito control measures.
The Colombo High Court yesterday (17) resumed hearing the money laundering case filed against Yoshitha Rajapaksa, son of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
The proceedings were held before High Court Judge Udesh Ranatunga, where evidence was recorded from prosecution witnesses, under the direction of Deputy Solicitor General Janaka Bandara.
President’s Counsel Sampath Mendis, appearing for Yoshitha Rajapaksa, cross-examined the witnesses during the hearing.
After recording evidence, the court ordered that further examination of evidence be postponed until July 24.
The Attorney General has filed indictments, alleging that Yoshitha Rajapaksa committed an offence, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, by purchasing five plots of land in Dehiwala and Ratmalana, valued at more than Rs. 73 million.
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