COLOMBO, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's independent election watchdogs said Saturday's provincial elections were free and fair with a good turn-out.

    "Our estimates show that there had been 60 to 65 percent polling which is very good for a provincial election," Rohana Hettiachchi, the deputy chief of People's Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) told reporters in Colombo.

    Polls closed at 4 p.m. local time (1030 GMT) in Sri Lanka's North Central Provincial Council and Sabaragamuva (south eastern) Provincial Council elections to elect two new administrations for a five year term.

    Some 2.1 million voters were eligible to vote in these two provinces.

    Keerthi Tennakoon, the spokesman for the CAFFE (Campaign for Free and Fair Elections) said the public expression of vote had clearly won over attempts to incite violence.

    "Except for 30 complaints of a very minor nature the election had been generally free and fair," Tennakoon said.

    Voting took place in 758 polling stations in North Central Province with 690 candidates from 37 political parties and independent groups vying for 33 member slots in the council.

    In Sabaragamuva Province polls held at 1,014 stations with 1,008 candidates from 19 different parties vying for 44 seats in the council.

    The run-up to the election was marred by a high level of violence with all parties being accused of assault, arson and destruction of property belonging to rivals.

    High level of pre-election violence led to special security measures being put in place on the election day.

    The Army was also deployed in some areas in view of heightened tension among contesting parties.

    The results are expected after midnight local time (1800 GMT) on Saturday, election officials said.