The curtain will come down on political campaigning for the upcoming Sri Lankan presidential election at midnight Monday, bringing to a close the flurry of intense propaganda activities and setting the stage for voting on Thursday, Daily News reported Monday.

According to the country's election law, all campaigns and work related to elections should end 48 hours prior to the elections date. Also steps have to be taken to close down party offices that functioned up to Monday other than the main party offices in the respective districts.

Election Department sources said that around 127,000 State officers have been duty-listed. They would be posted to 10,486 polling stations including those in the north and east.

The polling is scheduled to commence at 7:00 AM local time (01:00 GMT) and end by 4:00 PM (10:00 GMT).

According to the 2004 Voters Register, 13,227,160 are eligible to cast their votes at the presidential election to elect the country's Fifth Executive President.

Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake, who explained to the public via television how to cast their vote this time, has asked all registered voters to go to their respective polling centers and cast their votes.

Dissanayake has given strict orders to the police manning polling booths in the 22 electoral districts to use fire if necessary on those who violate election laws.

(Xinhua News Agency November 14, 2005)