The Sri Lankan elections for a new parliament have been long overdue due to the&nbsp;coronavirus pandemic. However, as the country is now easing up its lockdown, the elections will be held on August 05.

Sri Lanka has been carrying out mock elections to test the preparedness of people during the pandemic. The voters and the officials are being asked to follow the new health guidelines.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/colombo-embraces-new-normal-as-people-attend-drive-in-open-air-concert-303774">Have a look|&nbsp;Colombo embraces new normal as people attend drive-in open-air concert</a>

Sri Lanka's election commission now, on Sunday, expressed satisfaction over the preparations after holding a second mock poll to test the COVID-19 health guidelines.

"The Sri Lankan voter can be rest assured that the 5 August election for a new parliament can be held safely by following the COVID-19 health guidelines," the National Election Commission (NEC) chairman Mahinda Deshapriya said at a mock poll held in the northwestern region of Puttalam.

"We can hold a safe poll by maintaining distance, washing hands and wearing face masks," Deshapriya said.

The elections, which were to be originally held on April 25, were shifted to June 20 and now to August 05, due to the pandemic.

Sri Lanka has so far recorded 1,880 coronavirus cases and 11 deaths due to the disease.

(With inputs from PTI)

The Sri Lankan elections for a new parliament have been long overdue due to the coronavirus pandemic. However, as the country is now easing up its lockdown, the elections will be held on August 05.

The Sri Lankan elections for a new parliament have been long overdue due to the coronavirus pandemic. However, as the country is now easing up its lockdown, the elections will be held on August 05. Sri Lanka has been carrying out mock elections to test the preparedness of people during the pandemic. The voters and the officials are being asked to follow the new health guidelines. Have a look| Colombo embraces new normal as people attend drive-in open-air concert Sri Lanka's election commission now, on Sunday, expressed satisfaction over the preparations after holding a second mock poll to test the COVID-19 health guidelines. "The Sri Lankan voter can be rest assured that the 5 August election for a new parliament can be held safely by following the COVID-19 health guidelines," the National Election Commission (NEC) chairman Mahinda Deshapriya said at a mock poll held in the northwestern region of Puttalam. "We can hold a safe poll by maintaining distance, washing hands and wearing face masks," Deshapriya said. The elections, which were to be originally held on April 25, were shifted to June 20 and now to August 05, due to the pandemic. Sri Lanka has so far recorded 1,880 coronavirus cases and 11 deaths due to the disease. (With inputs from PTI)

Sri Lanka conducts second mock poll; election commission satisfied with preparations

A record number of candidates for Sri Lanka's presidential poll next month has led to the longest-ever ballot paper and the most expensive vote in the country's history, the Election Commission said Tuesday.

Thirty-five candidates are running in the November 16 poll, the highest number in any single ballot, Elections Commission chief Mahinda Deshapriya told reporters in Colombo.

"The ballot paper will be the longest-ever we have had," he said. "It will be 26 inches (65 centimetres) long.

"With the increase in the size of the ballot paper, we will have to import plastic ballot boxes because the wooden boxes we have with us will not be big enough."

The cost of the election was originally estimated at some $22 million, but it is now thought that will rise to $28 million, officials said.

Sri Lanka does not have electronic voting machines and ballots are counted manually, with the results expected the day after the polls.

The authorities allow each candidate to have two polling agents at each of the 11,000 voting booths across the nation.&nbsp;

The minimum voting age is 18 and 16 million people are eligible to vote.

There are two Buddhist monks and just one woman among the 35 people running for president of the nation of 21 million people.

Former president Mahinda Rajapakse's younger brother Gotabhaya, 70, is the frontrunner while his main challenger is 52-year-old Housing Minister Sajith Premadasa.

A record number of candidates for Sri Lanka's presidential poll next month has led to the longest-ever ballot paper and the most expensive vote in the country's history, the Election Commission said Tuesday.

A record number of candidates for Sri Lanka's presidential poll next month has led to the longest-ever ballot paper and the most expensive vote in the country's history, the Election Commission said Tuesday. Thirty-five candidates are running in the November 16 poll, the highest number in any single ballot, Elections Commission chief Mahinda Deshapriya told reporters in Colombo. "The ballot paper will be the longest-ever we have had," he said. "It will be 26 inches (65 centimetres) long. "With the increase in the size of the ballot paper, we will have to import plastic ballot boxes because the wooden boxes we have with us will not be big enough." The cost of the election was originally estimated at some $22 million, but it is now thought that will rise to $28 million, officials said. Sri Lanka does not have electronic voting machines and ballots are counted manually, with the results expected the day after the polls. The authorities allow each candidate to have two polling agents at each of the 11,000 voting booths across the nation. The minimum voting age is 18 and 16 million people are eligible to vote. There are two Buddhist monks and just one woman among the 35 people running for president of the nation of 21 million people. Former president Mahinda Rajapakse's younger brother Gotabhaya, 70, is the frontrunner while his main challenger is 52-year-old Housing Minister Sajith Premadasa.

Sri Lanka faces costliest election, longest ballot paper

The presidential elections in Sri Lanka would be held between November 15 and December 7, Election Commission Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya has said, clarifying that according to constitutional provisions the polls must be held one month before the end of the current president's term.&nbsp;

Deshapriya's clarification on the constitutional provisions regarding the date for the next presidential elections came after President Maithripala Sirisena told reporters last week in New Delhi that the presidential polls are likely to take place on December 7.

President Sirisena's five-year term is scheduled to end on January 8, 2020.

"The election must be held one month before the end of the current president's term," Deshapriya said, addressing the Voters' Day events held at the south Colombo suburb of Moratuwa Saturday.

"The nearest date the election can be held is November 15 as the November 10 is a Sunday and November 12 is a Poya Day (a Buddhist holy day). December 7 is the furthest day the election can be held," Deshapriya said, adding the Election Commission would be permitted to hold the election on any day between November 15 and December 7.

Sirisena was elected for a 5-year term on January 8, 2015, when he challenged the incumbent Mahinda Rajapaksa. The former strongman had called snap elections two years ahead of the end of his second term.

Sirisena backed by the then main Opposition United National Party (UNP) became the common Opposition candidate against his former boss Rajapaksa.

Although Sirisena has not so far declared his intention for a re-run, his souring of the relationship with the UNP of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has indicated that the UNP would be fielding its own candidate.

Sirisena in October last year sacked Wickremesinghe, who elevated him to the presidency, and replaced him with Rajapaksa. The move led to a constitutional impasse which lasted over 50 days.

After the intervention by the Supreme Court court, Wickremesinghe was restored as the prime minister.

Sirisena speaking to reporters in New Delhi after attending Prime Minister Narendra Modi's swearing-in ceremony said he had not decided on seeking another term in the election that is due by year-end.

"I am not in a hurry to decide whether to stand," Sirisena said. Sirisena has faced criticism over his leadership after a series of suicide bombings killed 258 people in the island nation on April 21.

The presidential elections in Sri Lanka would be held between November 15 and December 7, Election Commission Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya has said, clarifying that according to constitutional provisions the polls must be held one month before the end of the current president's term.

The presidential elections in Sri Lanka would be held between November 15 and December 7, Election Commission Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya has said, clarifying that according to constitutional provisions the polls must be held one month before the end of the current president's term. Deshapriya's clarification on the constitutional provisions regarding the date for the next presidential elections came after President Maithripala Sirisena told reporters last week in New Delhi that the presidential polls are likely to take place on December 7. President Sirisena's five-year term is scheduled to end on January 8, 2020. "The election must be held one month before the end of the current president's term," Deshapriya said, addressing the Voters' Day events held at the south Colombo suburb of Moratuwa Saturday. "The nearest date the election can be held is November 15 as the November 10 is a Sunday and November 12 is a Poya Day (a Buddhist holy day). December 7 is the furthest day the election can be held," Deshapriya said, adding the Election Commission would be permitted to hold the election on any day between November 15 and December 7. Sirisena was elected for a 5-year term on January 8, 2015, when he challenged the incumbent Mahinda Rajapaksa. The former strongman had called snap elections two years ahead of the end of his second term. Sirisena backed by the then main Opposition United National Party (UNP) became the common Opposition candidate against his former boss Rajapaksa. Although Sirisena has not so far declared his intention for a re-run, his souring of the relationship with the UNP of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has indicated that the UNP would be fielding its own candidate. Sirisena in October last year sacked Wickremesinghe, who elevated him to the presidency, and replaced him with Rajapaksa. The move led to a constitutional impasse which lasted over 50 days. After the intervention by the Supreme Court court, Wickremesinghe was restored as the prime minister. Sirisena speaking to reporters in New Delhi after attending Prime Minister Narendra Modi's swearing-in ceremony said he had not decided on seeking another term in the election that is due by year-end. "I am not in a hurry to decide whether to stand," Sirisena said. Sirisena has faced criticism over his leadership after a series of suicide bombings killed 258 people in the island nation on April 21.

Sri Lankan presidential polls to be held between November 15 and December 7