Former Speaker Karu Jayasuriya has urged the government and the Opposition to put their differences aside and work toward avoiding a constitutional crisis. Issuing a statement today Jayasuriya said that the government and opposition must engage with the Election Commission and with each other urgently and in good faith and if there are any precautions or new laws that the Commission determines would allow it to safely hold elections in time, those must be explored immediately. "The government is of the view that there is not necessarily any impediment to holding parliamentary elections on or before 28th May 2020." "It is the position of the Election Commission that the prevailing situation and logistical constraints prohibit parliamentary elections from being held in time for the new Parliament to be summoned to meet by 2nd June 2020." He said in the event holding elections in time is not possible, a constitutional crisis must be avoided at all costs. Jayasuriya further warned that such a crisis entails the risk of delegitimising and destabilising the country and could gravely impact Sri Lanka’s prospects of obtaining economic relief. Every country in the world is putting political differences aside and uniting to face this threat. Sri Lanka is the only democracy to face COVID-19 crisis without a legislature to pass laws and financial appropriations to combat the pandemic and its economic consequences, Jayasuriya  added. "In the interest of the nation, I appeal to the government, opposition, and other stakeholders to set aside their political differences and to take urgent and meaningful steps to avoid an unnecessary third crisis for our country,"Jayasuriya   said.