The Election Commission is expected to announce its decision on holding the postponed parliamentary election on Monday, following a decisive meeting with stakeholders.
A spokesperson said a meeting will be held with the Health sector and other stakeholders at the Election Commission on Monday morning to review the Covid 19 situation to decide whether they could hold the election before June 2. The election was earlier scheduled for April 25 when the Covid 19 global pandemic forced the Government to impose an island-wide curfew, compelling the Election Commission to indefinitely postpone the election. Following the stakeholders’ meeting, the three Commissioners, Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya, Prof.Ratnajeevan Hoole and N.J.Abeysekera will convene and their decision will be announced subsequently.
Health Services Director General Dr.Anil Jasinghe, Chief of Covid 19 Task Force Army Commander Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva, the Government Printer, Post Master General, Representatives of the Police and Tri-Forces are among those invited for this meeting.
President’s Secretary P.B.Jayasundere informed the Election Commission to decide on a fresh date for the election, when the Commission earlier informed the President to seek Supreme Court intervention to settle the current ‘stalemate created by the global pandemic’.
The Commission maintains that the current law requires the new Parliament to be convened before June 2 while there are arguments against it. Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday said the Commission has the sole authority to decide on the election date.