Sri Lanka’s General Elections
In November 2018, the date changed to 5th January 2019. This was due to President Maithripala Sirisena dissolving parliament during a constitutional crisis. There were calls for snap elections. However, the Supreme Court later suspended the dissolution and ordered a halt to it, effectively moving the election\’s date back to 2020.
Details on the elections
On 19 March, the Election Commission stated that the election was postponed indefinitely due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Sri Lankan government initially insisted that scheduled forthcoming the election would proceed as planned on 25 April despite the outbreak. However, authorities banned election rallies and meetings.
Moreover, Sri Lanka put off the date to 20 June 2020, using its powers, resulting in a crisis between the President’s office and the constitutions. On 10 June 2020, Election Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya confirmed that the postponed parliamentary elections will be held on 5 August 2020 with strict health measures and guidelines.
Current measures
The country has resorted to alternate measures for balloting, including postal voting, amidst fears of a second wave of the coronavirus. The Rajanganaya Divisional Secretariat, Anuradhapura District, is in Sri Lanka’s North Central Province. Voting took place there yesterday, between 9 a.m. to 4 p.m, as per the Election Commission.
COVID-19 update in Sri Lanka
Furthermore, The island nation successfully curtailed the first wave, with a mere 2000 cases, and 11 deaths. Sri Lanka had been able to keep its case numbers low because of early preparations. Thermal screening and self-declarations at the country’s only international airport began in mid-January.
Sri Lankan authorities have also previously come under fire for other management measures. They insisted on cremation for coronavirus victims – a practice forbidden by Islam. The nation\’s minority Muslim community caused a considerable and justified outcry over the policy.
