3 injured in shooting as Lanka poll campaigning ends

Three opposition workers were injured today in a shooting incident on the final day of campaigning for Sri Lanka's crucial presidential election.
Shots were fired at a venue in Nivithigala which was to be used for an election rally by the opposition, injuring three people.
A group of people had been decorating the stage for the rally when someone opened fire injuring three activists who have now been admitted to hospital, the Colombo Gazette reported.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who is seeking a record third straight term in office, is pitted against Maithripala Sirisena, his former health minister and General Secretary of the ruling Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), who is now his main challenger in the January 8 polls after defecting to the opposition.

All types of canvassing or election campaigning activities for the presidential poll should end 48 hours before the election.
Accordingly, displaying election posters, cutouts or decorations at any public place or political party office will be prohibited from midnight onwards.

The Election Secretariat in a statement said that all arrangements are in place to conduct a free and fair poll.
The Additional Elections Commissioner U Amaradasa said nearly 200,000 officials had been deployed by the Elections Secretariat for election duty, the Colombo Page reported.
A team of 55 international election observers from today will begin their election monitoring duties covering all the districts in the country.

The police will deploy a 71,000-strong force including 5,000 Special Task Force police to provide security at the polling stations and the counting centres.