Streets were calm and the three-day nationwide curfew was lifted Saturday after Sri Lanka`s most violent parliamentary elections ever concluded and the victorious opposition alliance prepared to form a government. Police spokesman Rienzie Perera said the situation across the tropical island was stable, prompting authorities to lift the ban on residents from stepping out of their homes.
The order had been imposed to prevent violence after balloting ended on Wednesday. Sixty-one people have died since the campaign began Oct. 21, said the independent Center for Monitoring Election Violence. More than 100 are believed wounded in the violence that included explosions and gunfire. The government deployed army soldiers to assist police in maintaining law and order.
The three-party United National Front won 129 of the 225 parliament seats, against 96 for the governing People`s Alliance and its supporting parties. Bureau Report