NEC to prepare health guidelines for poll

COLOMBO (News1st): Sri Lanka's national election commission (NEC) will compile health guidelines that should be followed during the upcoming general election, a senior official said. A proposal is being drafted in collaboration with health authorities, Saman Sri Ratnayake, the commissioner general of the elections secretariat said. He explained that the guidelines would aim to ensure the safety of the voters and state officials who will engage in election duties. The parliamentary elections have been fixed for June 20, but the opposition has criticized the government for insisting on conducting the election in the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic. The NEC has also indicated that the poll could be delayed if the situation does not return to normalcy in the country.