Election in Sri Lanka moves to a historic second count

Deepshikha Maan, Jadetimes Staff

D. Maan is a Jadetimes news reporter covering Asia

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Image Source : AP

Sri Lanka's Presidential Election Advances to a Historic Second Round of Tabulation

For the inaugural occasion in Sri Lanka's history, the presidential election has proceeded to a second round of counting due to no candidate obtaining above 50% of the votes. The Election Commission declared that the tallying of voters' second and third preferences will commence, as the national electoral framework permits voters to rank up to three candidates in order of preference.

No candidate achieves a majority in the initial round

The preliminary counting of first choice ballots revealed socialist politician Anura Kumara Dissanayake in the lead with 42.31%, followed by opposition leader Sajith Premadasa with 32.76% of the votes. Notwithstanding their robust performances, neither contender succeeded in exceeding the 50% barrier necessary for an outright presidential victory.

Under Sri Lanka's electoral regulations, a candidate must obtain a minimum of 50% plus one vote to be considered victorious. As no candidate attained this in the initial round, the election will advance to a second count, concentrating on the ballots of the eliminated candidates to ascertain whether second and third preferences were indicated for Dissanayake or Premadasa.

Disqualified Candidates and Subsequent Actions

During a news conference, the Election Commission announced that all candidates save Dissanayake and Premadasa have been disqualified from the competition. The second round will ascertain if votes for eliminated candidates may elevate one of the frontrunners to the necessary majority.

Context and Importance

This election signifies a crucial juncture for Sri Lanka, being the inaugural one conducted following the widespread protests in 2022 that resulted in the resignation of former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa during the nation's most severe economic crisis. The election has been among the most contested in Sri Lanka's history, as prior elections were usually determined in the initial round of counting.

According to the Election Commission, seventeen million Sri Lankans were eligible to vote in what has been characterized as one of the most tranquil elections in the nation's history. Notwithstanding the tranquil environment, officials instituted a temporary curfew on Saturday night, claiming public safety issues, which was rescinded by noon the next day.

Dissanayake's Robust Beginning and Premadasa's Resurgence

Anura Kumara Dissanayake, campaigning on a platform of anti corruption and effective government, originally gained significant traction in the polls, appealing to those desiring reform following the recent economic crisis. His initial advantage even elicited congratulations from several prominent individuals, including the foreign minister.

As additional votes were tallied, Sajith Premadasa, the opposition leader, started to narrow the margin. Dissanayake is now the leading candidate, although the ultimate result depends on the allocation of second and third-preference votes in the forthcoming rounds.

Evaluation of Incumbent's Performance

Incumbent president Ranil Wickremesinghe placed third, obtaining merely 17% of the vote. Wickremesinghe was assigned the responsibility of guiding the nation through its economic recovery following Rajapaksa's resignation; nonetheless, his backing was insufficient to sustain his candidacy.

As Sri Lanka anticipates the results of the second round of counting, attention is focused on the Election Commission to determine the next president in this carefully monitored and significant election.

Four fatalities and 18 injuries reported in Alabama mass shooting

Deepshikha Maan, Jadetimes Staff

D. Maan is a Jadetimes news reporter covering US

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Image Source : WVTM

Fatal Mass Shooting in Birmingham, Alabama: Four Deceased, 18 Injured

A devastating mass shooting in Birmingham, Alabama, has resulted in a minimum of four fatalities and 18 injuries, as reported by local officials. The incident transpired late Saturday night in the Five Points South vicinity, a vibrant area renowned for its nightlife. Birmingham Police Officer Truman Fitzgerald verified that "multiple shooters discharged numerous rounds at a gathering of individuals" in the vicinity, resulting in disorder and significant casualties.

Law enforcement arrived at the location on Magnolia Avenue to find the corpses of two males and one female. A fourth victim died from gunshot wounds thereafter in the hospital. The reason and circumstances of the assault remain under investigation, as authorities seek to ascertain whether the assailants arrived on foot or executed the attack from a passing vehicle. No suspects have been apprehended at this time.

Eyewitnesses situated outside a proximate hookah and cigar lounge reported hearing a succession of gunfire. Some characterized the sound as being from a firearm altered to operate as a fully automatic weapon, exacerbating the anxiety and uncertainty during the incident. Magnolia Avenue, the site of the incident, is a prominent thoroughfare in the Five Points South region, recognized for its clubs, restaurants, and nightlife, which generally attracts substantial crowds on weekends.

Officer Fitzgerald elaborated on the injuries, indicating that numerous individuals had gunshot wounds, with a minimum of four patients in critical condition. Emergency personnel and law enforcement have been diligently evaluating the situation to guarantee community safety.

This recent mass shooting contributes to the concerning trend of gun violence in the United States. The Gun Violence Archive defines mass shootings as events where four or more individuals are injured or killed, reporting over 400 such incidences nationwide this year. The prevalence and intensity of these assaults persist in eliciting apprehensions over public safety, firearm regulation, and violence mitigation.

The Birmingham community remains apprehensive as the investigation progresses, anticipating further details regarding the culprits and possible motives for this egregious act of violence.

Panemunė Road: The Historic Route That Saved Lithuania's Language and Culture

Chethma De Mel, Jadetimes Staff

C. J. De Mel is a Jadetimes news reporter covering Entertainment News

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Image Source : Andrius Aleksandravicius

For nearly four decades, bold smugglers transported around 40,000 Lithuanian-language books across the border to Lithuania every year, in an egregious breach of a ban under Russian rule.

The Panemunė road, over 100 kilometres along the longest Lithuanian river, the Nemunas, traces a route which until recently constituted the frontier between Lithuania and East Prussia - nowadays Kaliningrad, Russia. Locals regard it as the most romantic road in the country, as it twists its way past 17th-century castles, Renaissance mansions, and villages that look like they are from another world. On the other hand, Panemunė is also famous for being at the center of a very important movement in the late 19th century that saved the Lithuanian language, believed to be the oldest still surviving Indo-European language.

Originally established in the 13th century as a line of defense against Teutonic invaders, by the 1800s Panemunė developed into a busy trading and travel route. These days, the historical attractions that dominate it include the 17th-century Panemunė Castle, now a luxurious hotel and an artist residence, and Raudone Castle, a 16th-century fortress offering horseback riding, archery, and cultural fairs. On the road are Veliuona's ancient city, and the scenery hilltop castle of Seredzius-a view that reaches far to the Nemunas river. Along the route, Raudondvaris Castle is a 17th-century estate located with a concert hall, museum, and park at the confluence of the Nemunas and Nevezis rivers.

Image Source : Tadas Sirvidas / Amazing Aerial Agency

The Panemunė road was often described as the "paradise road" because of the scenic beauty and cultural richness that lined it. Comparisons have often been made between it and France's Loire Valley. Trips by boat down the Nemunas and local wine tastings are on offer, while numerous cultural events are organized in historic mansions along the route. But it is more than a beautiful region: Panemunė played an important role in the survival of Lithuanian culture during times when its expression was suppressed.

It is said that from 1865 to 1904, under the Russian tsarist rule, a complete ban on the Lithuanian language was promulgated even against its usage in print. But instead of the consequence that had been expected--namely, an overall Russification of that country--there emerged a resistance movement. The publishers, smugglers, and distributors then organized a great network, which managed to smuggle more than three million Lithuanian-language publications emanating from East Prussia and the US. As one historian, Vytautas Merkys estimated, more than 40,000 copies of Lithuanian publications entered the country every year on the Panemunė road.

Located near the borders of East Prussia and Poland, Panemunė became a significant entry point for these publications. Many smugglers crossed the Nemunas river, often with books on their bodies or hidden in steamboats or wagons, risking their very lives. The city of Kaunas, at the end of this route, would become a hotbed of cultural resistance to Russian rule and one of the major distributors of smuggled materials.

Image Source : Lukas Pileckas

According to historian Vaidas Banys, these book smugglers were crucial for their role in preserving the Lithuanian language. They carried as much as 80 pounds of printed material, often hidden in more innocuous cargo like hay or furniture. Peasants, merchants, priests, and even doctors joined in the smuggling network, all working in tandem against the ban on Lithuanian literature.

Border crossing was dangerous, with imprisonment, torture, or execution of smugglers upon capture. Punishments also varied in consideration of the contents of the smuggled materials: religious texts were less objectionable, while newspapers that spoke for freedom and national identity received much harsher sentences, including death or exile to Siberia.

These smugglers also faced persecution and death. The efforts of these smugglers were truly worth mentioning. This contribution to cultural survival is still remembered, and every year Lithuania celebrates Day of Book Smugglers on 16 March. Monuments to their memory, such as the Wall of the Book Smugglers in Kaunas, historical interest places along Panemunė road, are dedicated to the sacrifice of those brave men and women.

Today, the road to Panemunė provides an opportunity for the traveler to feel the richness of Lithuanian history and culture, while the memory of the book smugglers serves only as confirmation of the strong spirit and language of Lithuanians.