Gama for whom: VERDICT TODAY

Local polls with national significance

- By KELUM BANDARA

Sri Lankan voters will go to the polls today to elect members to 339 local authorities, the first of its kind to be held since 2018. The election, though meant to elect members for local governance, has assumed national significance since it is the first to be held after the National People's Power (NPP) took charge of Sri Lankan politics, inflicting a destructive blow to the two main traditional forces electorally.

Polling will take place at 13,759 stations today, covering 4,877 electoral wards spanning over 339 local authorities-Municipal Councils, Urban Councils and Pradeshiya Sabhas.

Today's poll will serve as a litmus test of the government's performance during the past six months, starting from the end of September last year, in terms of policy reforms, eradication of corruption and fraud and economic development.