Colombo, Voting for the 2020 General Elections in Sri Lanka commenced at 0700 hrs on Wednesday at 12,985 polling stations where 16,263,885 eligible voters will exercise their franchise. Voters will be permitted to use their own pens to mark their ballots. Polling is taking place as per strict health guidelines issued by health authorities to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and amid tight security arrangements. Voting will take place till 1700 hrs and counting will begin tomorrow morning. The elections follow a spell of uncertainty and legal wrangling since early March, when President Gotabaya Rajapaksa dissolved the 225-member legislature, five months ahead of schedule for an early-April poll. The Election Commission stated yesterday that final results of the parliamentary election are expected before Thursday midnight whereas the results of preferential votes can be expected before Friday midnight.