Updated 23:45 GMT
Tamils came on Thursday to cast their vote at Sri Lanka's presidential election despite grenade explosions and disruptions to transport services to polling booths. As of 4.00 pm local time, the Jaffna based newspaper Uthayan reported voter turnout as: Jaffna 61%, Vavuniya 70%, Mannar 50%, Mullaitivu 59%, Kilinochchi 66%, Trincomalee 63%, Batticaloa 55% and Amaparai 57%.
Also see an election map by The Republic Square below.
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Earlier in the day, a hand grenade explosion was reported by Point Pedro. Further unconfirmed reports of grenade explosions were also noted.
Buses due to take IDPs to polling booths in Mannar and Amparai were stopped, leaving voters unable to vote. Up to 10,000 IDPs were blocked from voting claimed former Minister and All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) leader Rishad Bathiudeen.
The Daily Mirror reported Bathiudeen as saying,
The Daily Mirror reported Bathiudeen as saying,
"A ruling coalition political strongman from Puttalam has illegally obstructed and blocked these buses from taking off from Puttalam with IDPs yesterday 07th evening thereby preventing the suffering IDPs to move and exercise their voting rights. The Puttalam-Anuradhapura road, the designated route the buses were supposed to ply, too were blocked with tyres and firewood in many locations blocking the movement of buses."
The 10,000 IDPs were registered to vote in Mannar said Bathiudeen. See more here.