COVID-19 syndrome; NPP to meet EC Chairman

While claiming that the prevailing situation in the country is not conducive to hold the General Election due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the National Peoples’ Power (NPP) Party said today it is planning to meet the Elections Commission Chairman to discuss the current situation.

NPP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake told a news conference that the current situation in the country would not ensure a free and fair election as everyone would not get equal opportunity of election campaigning.

“We see three issues pertaining to holding the election, such as inability to organise meetings and public gatherings, spreading of the disease if such meetings were arranged and that the health authorities have warned that the next two weeks will be very decisive. As such, we want the Election Commission to express its stance on these matters which is its responsibility," he said.

He said the NPP had decided to suspend all election campaigns such as meetings and door to door canvassing as a precautionary measure.

“We have suspended all election campaigning due to the COVID-19 outbreak, considering it as a moral responsibility. All political parties have faced the challenge of conveying their message to the people. Specially, leftist parties such as the JVP totally depend on door-to-door campaigning. We cannot afford to spend millions of rupees for elections campaigns such as the others. It creates an imbalance as we have to compete with those who have power and money,” he said. (Ajith Siriwardana)