Muslim voters traveling by bus to polling stations in northern Sri Lanka were attacked by gunfire and stones and blocked by burning tires hours before polls opened in presidential elections Saturday, in what a member of the Elections Commission called a coordinated effort to disenfranchise the minority group.

A group of unidentified people had opened fire after pelting stones at two Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) buses which were transporting people from Puttalam to Silawathura at Thanthrimale this morning, police said.

Two of the main candidates who are contesting today’s Presidential Election have already cast their respective votes at designated polling centers.

Voting to elect the country’s seventh Executive President commenced a few minutes ago in 22 administrative districts.

The price of wheat flour has not been changed or revised-and any retailer selling flour at an increased price will have to face legal action, warns Minister of Industry, Commerce, Resettlement of Protracted Displaced Persons, Cooperative Development, Skills Development & Vocational Training Rishad Bathiudeen.

At least 50 Sri Lankan election officials at the capital Colombo’s main counting centre were admitted to hospital on Friday with food poisoning on the eve of presidential polls, officials said.

Bakery Owners Association stated that Prima has mentioned that they will not increase the price of wheat flour.

Police have launched steps to prevent the misuse of social media related to the Presidential Election, through the Criminal Investigation Departments Cyber Crime Division.

The dealers say that they were informed by Prima Ceylon Company to increase the price of a kilogram of wheat flour by 8 rupees and 50 cents effective last midnight.

The first result of the ‘Presidential Election 2019’ can be expected by midnight on Saturday, Election Commission Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya disclosed on Wednesday.

Armed men stabbed and injured a writer in Sri Lanka on Thursday, a week after he published a book criticising the main opposition candidate at Saturday’s presidential polls, police said.

Sri Lanka Police will deploy 60,175 police officers and Civil Defense Force will deploy 8080 security officers to ensure security for the presidential elections on Saturday, 16th November.

Slain journalist Lasantha Wickrematunge’s daughter, Ahimsa and her legal team filed a notice of appeal to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday

Commissioner General of Prisons Bandula Jayasinghe says President Maithripala Sirisena has approved the release of 267 inmates on Presidential Pardon, after the 2019 Presidential Election.

Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna’s presidential contender Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who remained confident of his election victory, has urged the supporters to be respectful when celebrating the victory once the results are officially declared.

New Democratic Front Presidential candidate Sajith Premadasa yesterday vowed that the Kumbukkan Oya project would be expedited to strengthen the economy of the country’s farmers.