EC should withdraw decision to hold polls on June 20

By Yohan Perera   

Alleging that the Elections Commission (EC) had created a greater constitutional crisis by fixing a new date for the general elections, SJB Candidate and Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) Leader Rauff Hakeem yesterday urged the EC to withdraw decision to hold the polls on June 20.   

Mr. Hakeem told a media conference that the EC should withdraw its earlier decision to fix the polls for June 2020 so that the constitutional crisis could be resolved.   

“The EC earlier requested the President to seek an interpretation from the Supreme Courts stating that there could be a constitutional crisis as the election cannot be held as a result of COVID-19 crisis. It was also highlighted that the new Parliament has to be convened before June 2 2020 as per the constitution which asays a new Parliament has to be convened within three months from the dissolution date. This was seen as a constitutional crisis by the EC. However the EC itself had created a greater constitutional crisis by fixing the polls to June 20. Therefore we urge it to withdraw the new gazette notification issued calling for polls on June 20,” Mr Hakeem said.   
“ We feel that the EC had provided the government an opportunity to establish a dictatorial rule with a Parliament,” he added. He said this highlighting that the EC had said that it might have to postpone the polls date once again.  Asked whether the SJB has made a formal request from the EC to withdraw the gazette notification issued calling for polls on June 20, Mr. Hakeem said his party - the SLMC had made a request in writing.   

He also said Parliament should be reconvened in order to avoid further issues. 

• We feel the EC had provided the govt. an opportunity to establish a dictatorial rule