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Monday, 13 July 2020 02:21 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) has decided to postpone major election rallies scheduled to be attended by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa between today and 15 July due to the sudden spike in COVID-19 cases in the country.
National Organiser Basil Rajapaksa said SLPP took this decision in the wake of over 400 new COVID-19 cases from the Kandakadu Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre cluster within the last few days.
Issuing a statement, the SLPP stated that major election rallies scheduled between today and 15 July, which President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and the SLPP leader Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa have been postponed.
In addition, the SLPP requested all candidates to limit their election gathering including pocket meetings and to strictly comply with health guidance if there would be meetings.
Separately the prime ministerial candidate incumbent Mahinda Rajapaksa also requested all SLPP candidates to comply with health guidance and maintain social distance at meetings. He also noted that he would not participate in any rally for the next few days.
Prime Minister Rajapaksa also requested SLPP candidates to prevent anyone from attending without a face mask to the SLPP meetings.
However, several rallies were held yesterday with the participation of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa. During a rally held in Padukka, Rajapaksa pledged to hold a long-delayed Provincial council election without further delay.
“Once the General Election is over, we will take necessary measures to hold the Provincial Council Election without further delay. We would even consider amending the Constitution to hold the Provincial Council Election,” he said.
He pledges to protect democratic rights of the citizens and hold elections on time to enable the people to elect their representatives. He blamed the previous administration for delaying Provincial Council Elections for more than two years.
Referring to the SLPP candidates, Rajapaksa assured nominations were given to the best suitable candidate and they are capable of addressing countries long-standing issues and attain development goals set in President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s policy statement.
