By Sarah Hannan The date to hold the general election may not be decided tomorrow (8) as the Election Commission (EC) awaits advice from the World Health Organisation (WHO) on holding elections amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, Election Secretariat Director General Saman Sri Rathnakaye stated. “While Director General of Health Services Dr. Anil Jasinghe did provide us with the necessary guidelines to continue with the election campaigns in the upcoming weeks, and although we have the green light to go ahead and announce the date for the election, we shall have to wait for a response from the WHO. We are hoping to receive a response from them by noon on Monday,” Rathnayake told The Sunday Morning on Friday (5). However, earlier last week at a press conference, EC Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya said the date of the election will be decided after the next meeting of the EC on Monday. The EC last week received basic guidelines from the Ministry of Health to be followed when holding the election. “We have basic guidelines which will need to be fleshed out in the coming weeks after discussing with the various parties that are involved. Accordingly, election health guidelines will need to be drafted for the voters, political parties, EC staff, and the polling centres, to name a few.” Campaigning is allowed for political parties with only three persons allowed to carry out door-to-door pre-election campaigns, with meetings to be held under the strict guidelines that are directed. However, according to Election Secretariat and the EC Chairman, guidelines will need to be amended considering the practicality. While an approximate budget for their regular activities amount to Rs. 7 billion, additional elements regarding health and safety that need to be adopted are to be estimated in the coming days. EC Chairman Deshapriya, speaking to The Sunday Morning, noted: “The health guidelines that have been issued require us to purchase additional supplies such as hand sanitiser, disinfectants, and facemasks, and will see the employment of additional manpower to be posted at polling centres. We are yet to determine the costs of these.” The EC noted that the Commission’s main objective is to hold elections no matter the cost and the approximate amounts would be calculated closer to the election date.