COLOMBO, Nov.16 (Xinhua) -- Twenty six people were arrested in Sri Lanka on Saturday for committing election violations as citizens voted in a crucial presidential election, police said.
Police Spokesperson Ruwan Gunasekara told journalists in capital Colombo that the arrests were made from across the country over charges of violating election laws such as taking pictures inside polling booths which was prohibited and voter intimidation.
Gunasekara said voting began at 7:00 am and ended at 5:00 pm local time, and overall no major violence was reported during the voting.
Till Saturday afternoon, nearly 70 percent of the island country's 16 million eligible voters had cast their votes with election officers predicting the overall turnout to be above 80 percent.
A total of 35 candidates were running for the presidential polls.
The Elections Commission said the results will begin to be announced by early Sunday and the winner is likely to be announced by Monday.
