For the last eight months I have been living in a village in the Kalutara district. The village is situated about 10 kilometres south of Kalutara the district capital and a kilometer or so east from the sea.. The village economy is based on paddy farming and services with many young men and women commuting for work in Colombo and the neighbouring urban centres. The village is well served by rail and road transport. It is almost entirely Buddhist with temples of all three Nikayas and most people claim to be of the farming community. The village is perhaps typical of the hundreds of self – identified village communities in this south west quadrant of the island.

Two cases of ballot boxes being caught up in road mishaps have taken place just hours before voting in the Presidential election opens on Thursday (January 8).

The supporter of common opposition candidate - Maithripala Sirisena, who was injured during a recent shooting incident in Kahawatta, is in serious condition, reports say.