Sri Lanka`s ruling party was ahead in early ballot counting in crucial legislative elections. Of the counted ballots, the People`s Alliance received around 47 percent of the votes, followed by former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe`s United National Party with 36 percent. Counting was slow as it is being done manually. The Election Commission said it was delaying counting in four of the country`s 22 electoral districts after poll monitors called for vote in some areas to be annulled due to fraud and violence. While Sri Lankans wait for the election results, they have been requested to fly white flags in honor of their former prime minister, Sirimavo Bandaranaike, 84, who died after casting her vote on Tuesday. She will be buried in a state funeral Saturday. Friday and Saturday have been declared days of mourning. Bandaranaike was elected prime minister July 20, 1960, six years before Indira Gandhi became the first woman leader of India. Bureau Report