August 23, 2008	Saturday	Sha'aban 20, 1429

COLOMBO, August 22 A series of violence such as shootouts, burning of vehicles and buildings have forced the government military to deploy its troops in two provinces where provincial council elections are to be held on Saturday.

Twenty one thousand security personnel have been deployed to carry out election duty, a police spokesperson said.

Elections are being held in the North-Central province, 180 kms north-east of Colombo, and the Sabaragamuwa province, 100 kms south-east of the capital. Three months ago, polls were carried out in the volatile east, on area freed from rebel control, amidst allegations of rigging.

Election monitors overseeing the present election say a spate of violence has been continuing for the past six weeks .

Around 2.1 million voters are eligible to vote in Saturday’s poll to elect members of two councils that handle development in the two provinces.