EC says possible to hold PC polls

Tuesday, 16 July 2019 00:41 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Deshapriya says PC polls can be held under either electoral system
Urges President to seek SC opinion and create environment for elections
PC polls should be held before 15 October
Deshapriya confident of capacity to hold two elections

The Provincial Council (PC) elections can be held before 15 October if President Maithripala Sirisena issues the Gazette on the the delimitation report, or if the Supreme Court determines that the old electoral system is valid, the Chairman of the Election Commission said yesterday.

If President Sirisena issues the Gazette on the delimitation report then the Provincial Council Elections can be held under the new electoral system, Election Commission (EC) Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya said during a meeting held with newspaper editors.

The Chairman highlighted that the elections must be held before 15 October under the new system or the old electoral system.

Under Section 33D of the Constitution, the President holds the power to create proper conditions for the conduct of free and fair elections on the advice of the Election Commission, he said. Based on this provision the EC has already requested the President to seek the opinion of the Supreme Court on the issue and create a conducive environment to hold elections, Deshapriya told members of the Editors Guild.

The President is to hold discussions with Deshapriya on the prospects of holding PC elections ahead of this year’s presidential poll. Deshapriya was confident of the capacity of the EC to hold Presidential Elections soon after PC polls if it is to be held as indicated.

President Sirisena was earlier planning to seek the opinion of the Supreme Court on his term, however Deshapriya was confident that Presidential Elections will be held between 16 November and 7 December this year.