Sri Lanka postpones parliamentary poll for nearly 2 months due to COVID-19 outbreak

Colombo, Apr 20 (PTI) Sri Lanka's Election Commission on Monday postponed parliamentary elections for nearly two months in wake of coronavirus outbreak that has killed seven people and infected 295 ors in country.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on March 2 dissolved Parliament, six months ahe of schedule and called a snap election on April 25.

A gazette notice signed by three members of National Election Commission announcing June 20 date of election was issued on Monday.

EC has written to President Rajapaksa asking him to seek highest court's opinion on a possible constitutional standoff arising from postponement of election.

It said that postponement meant that parliament would not be able to meet on June 2, which is three months from dismissal of last parliament on March 2.

However, Rajapaksa asserted that it was election commission's job to fix polls date and as such no need for Supreme Court's intervention.

Earlier, election commission met with government officials and reviewed pandemic situation affecting election machinery.

On Monday, government dropped its decision to relax nationwide curfew and extended it to April 27 following a sudden spike of 41 coronavirus cases in last 24 hours. On Sunday, government announced to partially lift curbs from Monday to boost economic activity.

island nation has been under a 24-hour curfew since March 20 to combat dely viral infection.

All opposition parties and many civil society groups have urged government to show caution in trying to rush through holding election.

Sri Lanka has so far reported 295 COVID-19 cases, including seven deaths, and 96 recoveries, since first viral infection was reported in country on March 11.

parliamentary polls were announced 6 months ahe of schedule as Rajapaksa, who was elected as president in November, wanted a new Parliament to implement his mandate.

Rajapaksa is also under pressure to re-summon dissolved Parliament in order to approve finances for government business from May.

previous Parliament h approved funds till April 30.