Sri Lankan election commission says parliamentary poll not possible in June

Sri Lanka's independent elections commission said Wednesday it cant hold parliamentary elections on June 20 as planned because of coronavirus outbreak.

Saliya Peiris, a lawyer representing commission, told Supreme Court that elections can only be held 10 weeks after health authorities declare conditions are safe.

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Several former lawmakers and civil groups h complained to court that ir fundamental rights were breached by commission's earlier decision to hold election on June 20.

election was originally set for April 25 but commission rescheduled it for June. Peiris said commission chose that date expecting country's lockdown would be lifted by end of this month.

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petitioners also asked court to annul President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's move on March 2 to dissolve Parliament and reinstate old Parliament because constitution says country cant run without a legislature for more than three months.

Parliament's term was to end in September but president has power to dissolve it six months ahe of schedule, and also to reconvene it in an emergency. court has t yet said wher it will hear that case.

Sri Lanka has reported 1,027 coronavirus cases including nine deaths.

court was told that candidates campaign mostly through public meetings and canvassing door-to-door, methods that are t conducive for social distancing.

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