Extraordinary Gazette on "COVID-19 Elections Regulations" issued

COLOMBO (News 1st): The Extraordinary Gazette on (COVID-19) (Elections) Regulations - No. 1 of 2020 was issued on Friday night (July 17). The gazette issued bearing the signature of Minister of Health, Pavithra Wanniarachchi contains health regulations for elections, under section 2 and 3 of the Quarantine and Prevention of Diseases Ordinance. The regulations are as follows: According to the gazette, anyone who intends to organize a meeting related to the election should inform the Medical Officer of Health in the designated area in writing, at least 24 hours prior to the meeting. The organizer of the election meeting should ensure the number of attendees does not exceed 300. However, in the case the leader of a political party or an independent group participates for the meeting, the number of attendees should not exceed 500. The organizer of an election meeting must maintain a record of the names, NIC numbers and contact details of all attendees Adequate hand washing facilities, sanitizer should be provided at all election campaigns, and attendees must follow health guidelines such as, maintaining social distances at election meetings. All attendees must wear a face mask, and equipment used during the meeting, such as microphones should be disinfected. A group canvassing for a particular candidate, should not exceed 5 people; and they must wear face masks, maintain social distances and sanitize before distributing any printed material. Every candidate during election, must provide facilities at election offices for visitors to wash hands and ensure health practices such as social distancing, wearing of face masks are followed. Further, candidates must also ensure that alcohol is not brought or consumed within the premises of the respective election office. Each individual must wash hands or use sanitizer, wear faces masks, maintain social distances at the premises of polling centres, counting centres and the office of the National Elections Commission. The gazette finally notes, the phrase “during the period of an election” means, the period commencing from the time of Proclamation or Order for the conduct of a Referendum or to hold an election, till the date results of the Referendum or election, are declared.