over 18,000 IDPs are still in refugee camps in Batticaloa district

The nominations will be accepted for nine local bodies in the district from 18 to 25 January, Deputy Election Commissioner (Batticaloa) T Kirshnanthalingam announced on Friday.

Elections for three local bodies, in predominant Muslim areas, were held in May 2006.

This is the first time elections for local bodies to be held since 1994.

First elections since 1994

The Sri Lanka government announced capturing all LTTE-held areas in the east earlier last year.

Sri Lankan authorities twice called for nominations earlier, in 2002 and 2006, but the elections were postponed for nine local bodies due to security situation.

	President celebrated capturing LTTE strongholds in the east

2,70,471 are registered to vote for the elections at 285 polling stations to elect 101 Councillors, commissioner T Kirshnanthalingam said.

However, 18,048 people from 4592 Internally displaced (IDP) families are still living in refugee camps, authorities say.

The Commissioner said cluster polling booths will be established for IDPs as at least 60% of the displaced are believed to be registered voters.

No exact figures available on registered voters in IDP camps, he added.