Campaigning for General Elections in Sri Lanka ended midnight last night as the island nation moved into a silent period. All campaign activities until election day now stand prohibited as per the election laws in Sri Lanka.

Akashvani’s correspondent reports that polling for the general election will be held on Thursday between 7 am and 4 pm at over 13,400 polling stations where the 17 million electorate will exercise their right to vote. Over 8800 candidates are in the fray to be elected through 196 seats from 22 electoral districts and 29 national list seats.

The Election Commission has said that over 75000 police personnel have been deployed for the election process across the island. The elections are expected to set the tone for the country’s political future under the leadership of President Dissanayake. Sri Lanka had elected NPP candidate Anura Kumara Dissanayake as the president in September this year. Days after assuming office, Mr. Dissanayake dissolved the Parliament making way for snap elections.