EC to meet to review COVID-19 situation; possible date change for election

Thursday, 23 April 2020 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Final decision on date of poll depends on COVID-19 situation
EC to meet with party leaders again in two weeks as well
Postal voting to close on 4 May
EC issues Gazette notification directing public officials to ensure relief work not used to promote candidates or parties

The Election Commission will meet in weeks to review the COVID-19 situation in the country and based on the situation, discuss revising the date for the holding of the General Election which has been fixed for 20 June.

Mahinda Deshapriya

The EC will also meet with representatives of political parties contesting the election the same day, Daily FT learns.

EC Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya has told party leaders he met on Tuesday that the final decision on fixing another date for the poll will be made after an assessment of the COVID-19 situation in the country.

Meanwhile the Election Commission has issued an order to all public officials to ensure that the distribution of Government relief is not used to promote candidates or parties contesting the upcoming General Election.

“During the election period, officers of all Government Ministries, Departments, Statutory Boards, Provincial Councils and Local Authorities should avoid engaging with any candidate contesting the Parliamentary Election in facilitating or directing the distribution of Government relief to citizens, as it would amount to promoting the parties’/groups’ or candidates’,” the EC said in the relevant Gazette notification issued yesterday said.

This will be in addition to the directive issued by the EC in March preventing the use of any movable or immovable property belonging to the State, any State Corporation or Statutory Boards for the purpose of promoting or demoting the election of any candidate of any political party or independent group.

The postal voting for the General Election will close on 4 May while the Gazette notification with the names and preferential numbers of the candidates is expected to be issued the same day.