ELECTION COMMISSION AND ITS ROLE – TO HOLD ELECTIONS OR NOT TO HOLD ELECTIONS
Posted on May 31st, 2020
By M D P DISSANAYAKE
As Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse said holding of the elections is the duty of the Elections Commission. Has it discharged its constitutional obligations?
For the past four and half years, it failed to conduct several elections at lower level of democratic governance structure. It had various reasons, some of the reasons were due to so called delimitation issues. But previous government and the TNA successfully combined together to somehow influence the EC to succumb to postponing elections.
The President dissolved the Parliament on 2nd March, 2020. The 2nd of June, 2020 is not far away. The Supreme Court is still going through the petitions.
These are interesting issues for Law Students as well as Legal Practitioners.
If the EC had conducted the Elections as it was scheduled to be held on May 27, by now we have a new parliament.
On Covid19, Sri Lanka had 10 deaths, less than 1%, compares very favourably with world standards. Our health system is likely to attract international attention for an excellent workmanship.
On the other hand our Elections Commission is likely to attract international attention for an not so excellent workmanship.
Interesting days are ahead.