Local elections are held today in eastern Sri Lanka, a region that had been under the control of the Tamil Tiger rebels for more than a decade, when they were driven away by the government forces last year.

The authorities raised security measures sending thousands of police officers and commandos in Batticaloa in eastern Sri Lanka to prevent violence during the local elections.

The polling stations opened up at 7 a.m., and there were few people turning out to express their vote. An increased turnout is expected during the afternoon hours.

Despite the security measures, a bomb was detonated along a main road in the capital, Colombo, shortly before 7 a.m., killing one person and wounding six other, including children, the Associated Press informs. The Tamil Tiger rebels are believed to be responsible for the blast.

Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa said the vote was an extremely important step toward democracy, and he expressed his hope that terrorism will be eradicated in the north. The polls are being held for nine local councils in the Batticaloa district to appoint 101 councilors. The polling stations will close at 4 p.m. local time (1030 GMT). Approximately 270,471 voters are expected to turn out to vote at 285 polling stations.

The party expected to win is Tamileela Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal party (TMVP), which is made up of former Tamil Tiger rebels, who switched sides in 2004. They turned against their former fellow rebels and helped the government forces to drive them from the east, BBC reports. The TMVP has been accused of recruiting children, abductions and killings.

The main opposition, United National Party and the main Tamil minority party, the Tamil National Alliance refused to take part in the lections claiming that as long as the TMVP are intimidating voters, the elections will not be fair and free.

Six political parties and 22 independent groups are fielding a total of 831 candidates, according to the Media Center.