o Gazette announcing date issued o EC to meet political parties today By Maheesha Mudugamuwa At the end of a series of crucial discussions, the Election Commission (EC) yesterday (20) decided to hold the impending parliamentary election on 20 June. The general election, which was earlier scheduled for 25 April, was postponed due to the Covid-19 outbreak. Speaking to The Morning, Member of the EC Prof. S. Rathnajeevan H. Hoole said that the gazette notification announcing 20 June as the parliamentary election date has been issued by the EC last night. He said that it was a unanimous decision by the Commission Members since the election date was two months from now. Prior to the decision, the EC had held a number of meetings with representatives of the health sector, the Police, members of the armed forces, Department of Posts, as well as election officials in the districts yesterday. Another meeting with the leaders of all political parties is scheduled for Today (21) at 10 a.m., according to Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) member Dr. Harsha de Silva. Director General of Health Services (DGHS) Dr. Anil Jasinghe and Deputy Director General of Public Health Services Dr. Paba Palihawadana were among the key officials who participated for the meeting held with EC officials. On her way to the meeting, Dr. Palihawadana told the media that the health representatives were summoned to seek health recommendations. However, the Commission met yesterday as scheduled earlier and had discussed the letter sent by the Secretary to the President in response to the Commission’s letter sent to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa suggesting he seek the Supreme Court’s opinion on parliamentary elections, which as many claimed might lead to a constitutional crisis. Secretary to the President Dr. P.B. Jayasundara sent the aforesaid letter on 6 April 2020 to EC Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya in response to the letters sent by the Chairman, under the title “Parliamentary Election 2020 and Date of Summoning of the New Parliament” dated 31 March 2020 and 1 April 2020. In the letter written to Dr. Jaysundara, EC Chairman Deshapriya had said that in keeping with the provisions of the Constitution, the new Parliament will have to meet latest by 2 June, which means the election would have to be held by at least 27 or 28 May and preparations for the poll will have to commence by 20 April at least. However, given the present situation in the country with the spread of Covid-19, the EC had said it is difficult to expect that there would be a conducive environment to hold election even by end-May. The President dissolved Parliament on 2 March and fixed 25 April as the date of the election, but the EC decided to postpone the poll in the wake of the spread of the coronavirus. In his proclamation dissolving Parliament, the President fixed 14 May for the meeting of the new Parliament. In response to the EC’s letter, Dr. Jayasundara, as per the instructions given by the President, pointed out that the Commission has failed to act according to the full provisions of Section 24 of the Parliamentary Elections Act and should have published another date for the general election as per Section 24 (3) of the Act. In the circumstances, Dr. Jayasundara had informed Deshapriya that there was no need for the matter to be referred to the Supreme Court. Meanwhile, echoing the sentiments of the President, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa on Saturday (18) urged the EC to announce the date of the parliamentary election, amidst warnings that a delayed poll can lead to a constitutional crisis. In his statement, PM Rajapaksa said: “They have no power to postpone the poll without fixing another date.” However, few hours ahead of a meeting to decide on the poll, Deshapriya in a statement made on his Facebook account stressed that undue influence cannot be exerted on matters concerning the general election, citing that he is the authority to make decisions in that regard. He further stated that the election body would take a decision based on the current situation of the country and the need to conduct a free and fair election with a level playing field for all candidates, adding that he would not divulge details discussed within the EC through the media nor provide his personal opinion. “I am on the side of the Constitution, democracy, and the people,” Deshapriya had stated.