In Sri Lanka, counting of votes is underway for the local body elections held on Saturday. Most of the results of individual wards are expected by late tonight.<br/><br/>Earlier, more than 65 percent voting was reported from all over the country to elect 8,325 candidates for 340 Local Government bodies.<br/><br/>Voting was largely peaceful except for few individual incidents. This is the first time a mixed electoral system is being followed wherein 60 per cent of the members will be elected on a first-past-the-post system (FPP), while the rest will be on proportional representation (PR).<br/><br/>Results for candidates getting elected through FPP will be declared tonight but the overall picture will be clear by Sunday only.<br/><br/>Though the elections are to elect local body representatives, several political commentators believe it is a referendum for the government.<br/><br/>Former President Mahinda Rajapakse is trying to make a comeback through an opposition alliance while popularity of unity government led by President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime minister Ranil Wickremsinghe, is under test.<br/><br/>Both leaders are fighting each other through their coalitions, which has added further interest to the contest.