COLOMBO, July 10 (Xinhuanet) -- Lack of voter enthusiasm marked Sri Lanka's election for six provincial councils which started on Saturday.

    Voters were turning out in a trickle as the polling stations opened at 7:00 a.m. local time in a marked contrast to brisk voting associated with major elections.

    Saturday's elections are to appoint 316 members of provincial councils out of 4,134 candidates for six out of the country's nineprovinces.

    A total of some 9.5 million eligible voters are expected to cast their ballots at more than 7,600 polling stations which will close at 4:00 p.m..

    The ruling United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) led by President Chandrika Kumaratunga is expected to win the election, analysts say.

    The UPFA is to consolidate its position after its victory in April 2 parliamentary elections.

    The ruling freedom alliance almost immediately annexed the North Western Provincial Council in the election held late April.

    Saturday's elections have come after Wednesday's suicide attackby a suspected female Tamil Tiger rebel at a Colombo police station.

    The blast was the first since the government and the LiberationTigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebels entered ceasefire in February 2002.

    It came amidst moves by the Norwegian peace facilitators to revive the peace process stalled since April last year.

    The government's progress has been hampered by their failure togain simple majority of 113 seats in the 225-member parliament.

    The opposition led by the United National Party (UNP) commands majority in the assembly but has said that they would not move to topple the government. Enditem