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General election: EC calls for all-party solution

09 Apr 2022

  • General Election may cost Rs. 10 b
  • 3 months required to organise polls
  • Fuel and paper shortage will hamper polls
By Skandha Gunasekara The Elections Commission (EC) yesterday (9) called for an all-party solution to the current political and economic crisis, with the EC Chairman stating that an election during the current instability and economic crisis was not the answer to Sri Lanka’s woes. EC Chairman Nimal Punchihewa said that all political parties in Parliament must unite to bring Sri Lanka out of the current crisis.   “Going for an election is not the solution, in fact it can make things worse at this point. We must find a democratic solution through solidarity. In this sense the party leaders must come together for a given time period and share the responsibilities and find a way to face this crisis and overcome it. At least the political parties represented in Parliament should come together and find a solution.” He said election costs would be over around Rs. 10 billion and the time-frame itself to organise an election would exceed three months, while shortages in supplies of paper and fuel also needed to be resolved. “At least three-and-a-half to four months will be needed to arrange an election. Around Rs. 10 billion will be required to hold a General Election. It will be a similar cost for Provincial Elections as well since the basic costs are more or less the same. If the Government decides to go for an election, then it must find solutions to issues such as paper and fuel shortages as ä large supply of both will be needed to conduct an election.” He said an electronic voting system was not an option as the necessary legislation would need to be introduced and the public would need to be accustomed to the new technology.   “Going for a digital election method is not viable, especially in a hurry. Our people have not voted using such a system so first that challenge must be overcome. Overall, from what we have seen in other countries, digital voting has not always been successful, so that is not an option at this point. In addition, the law has to be changed as well if we are going to introduce a new mode of casting a vote.” Meanwhile, People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) too said holding polls was not the answer for the present issue. PAFFREL Executive Director Rohana Hettiarachchi said there were multiple reasons including the fact that a change in government would not be able to resolve the economic crisis as long as there was political instability. “A common consensus must be found between the political parties in Parliament to resolve this crisis. Having an election to change the government won’t fix the problem of political instability and whoever comes into the opposition will once again hinder any moves the new government makes to try to turn things around. This is why it is important for political parties to come together and bring about political stability first.”  


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