Election fever seemed to have caught on the parliamentarians yesterday, just one day before the North Central and Sabaragamuwa Provincial polls. There were only about 25 members during the morning and the House was adjourned at 10.30 immediately after the question time and presentation of papers and motions by the Ministers.

The notable absentees were Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, Chief Opposition Whip Joseph Michael Perera, JNP leader Wimal Weerawansa who is usually present in the House daily during sittings. Ministers of the two provinces where the elections were taking place were also not present.

However Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayake, Leader of the House Nimal Siripala de Silva, Chief Government Whip Dinesh Gunawardena and a few Ministers and the JVP group leader Anura Dissanayake and TNA leader S. Sampanthan were present.