Sri Lankans shrug off fears of Covid-19 as they vote in large numbers to elect a new parliament that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa hopes will clear way for him to boost his powers
A health official takes the temperature of election officials who arrive with ballot boxes from polling station to a counting center, after the voting ended during the country's parliamentary election in Colombo, Sri Lanka, August 5, 2020.
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa was elected last November after projecting himself as the only leader who could secure the country after the Daesh-inspired bombings of churches and hotels on Easter Sunday that killed 269 people. At least four members of the family were running in Wednesday's parliamentary election, and strong support for the Rajapaksas' party could add to their political dynasty.Police spokesman Priyantha Weerasuriya said the voting, which ended at 5 p.m., was largely peaceful and that police officers were escorting the ballot boxes to the counting centers.
"They will win by a huge margin but the economic and social problems post-Covid-19 will be huge," said political analyst Kusal Perera.
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