Voting remains steady as residents across the North-East cast their votes in Sri Lanka's local government elections. 

The election is for municipal council, urban council and pradeshiya council seats across the island. 

Armed police and military personnel were seen on the streets near polling booths as voting took place, after the goverment increased the security presence across the North-East ahead of the polls. 

Woman leaves voting centre in Mannar as armed military officers watch

Jaffna 

Periyakallar, Batticaloa

Armed officer watches as voters gather in Trincomalee 

Mothers arrive to vote in Kilinochchi

Voting takes place in the Muslim Quarter of Jaffna

Leaders of Tamil nationalist parties cast their votes this morning

Several voters at a polling station in Jaffna complained that the ink used to stain the finger is not being applied properly.  At the same station a UNP candidate was seen outside the station, telling people to vote for him. 

Amparai

Voters queue outside polling booth in Trincomalee

Voters queue at polling booth in Mannar

Man leaves after casting vote in Vavuniya 

Election monitors observe polls in Vavuniya

Batticoloa 

Batticaloa