Colombo, Nov 17 (TIWN) Around 80 per cent of eligible Sri Lankans voted on Saturday for the presidential election, the country's National Election Commission stated. In Tamil-majority Northern Province, the polling percentage was recorded around 70% with 66 per cent voter turnout in Jaffna district. Former war-affected districts Kilinochchi polled 73 per cent, Mullaitivu 76 per cent, Vavuniya 75 and Mannar 71 per cent.

A total of 35 candidates are vying for votes in the presidential election, the third since the end of the country's decades-long civil war in 2009.

The current president, however, was not on the ballot.

Maithripala Sirisena decided against running after coming under criticism following the Easter Sunday bombings.

The attack by Islamic State militants, which targeted churches and top-end hotels, left at least 253 people dead.