Election Commission in discussion to announce date of Polls

By Sandun A Jayasekera

In the aftermath of the Supreme Court ruling on Tuesday, the Elections Commission (EC) yesterday met with the Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya at the chair to take a final decision on the day of polling for the much delayed Parliamentary polls and the modalities to conduct the polls.   

A spokesman of the EC said the two other members of the EC, N.J Abeysekara, Prof. Ratnajeewan Hoole, Director General Saman Sri Ratnayaka and senior officials participated in the discussion.  The talks focused on the guidelines and protocol to be issued by the health and security authorities today or tomorrow enabling the EC to take a final decision on the date of the polls.   

Meanwhile, Director General Health Services, Dr. Anil Jasinghe said the health guidelines to be followed by the EC, election officials, voters, employees of the public, political parties and candidates and private sector the media and the public would be issued today.  Meanwhile, the EC has already issued guidelines and directives for the media, candidates, political parties, election officials, voters, public officials and employees.   

The EC will also hold talks with political parties, officials of the health and security establishments, District Secretaries and assistant elections commissioners before taking the final decision on the election date, he added.