The Election Commission (EC) is set to officially declare the date for this year’s Presidential Election in August, as confirmed by EC Chairman R.M.A.L. Rathnayake.

Speaking to The Sunday Morning, he said that the forthcoming Presidential Election was scheduled to take place between 16 September and 17 October and that the specific date for the election would be officially announced in early August.

Rathnayake said that the selection of the election date would strictly follow the procedures outlined in both the Constitution and the Presidential Elections Act.

“We will adhere to the prescribed procedures,” he said. Accordingly, Section 2 of the Presidential Elections Act No.15 of 1981 states: “(1) Where the Commissioner of Elections (hereinafter referred to as the ‘Commissioner’), is required by the Constitution to conduct the election of the President, he shall by Order published in the gazette

(a) fix the date of nomination of candidates being a date not less than 16 days and not more than one month from the date of publication of such Order and the place of nomination; and (b) fix the date on which the poll shall be taken, being a date not less than one month and not more than two months from the date of nomination.

“(2) The date fixed under paragraph (a) or paragraph (b) of subsection (1) shall be any day other than a Full Moon Poya day or any public holiday specified in the First Schedule to the Holidays Act No.29 of 1971; and if, after the publication of the Order under subsection (1), any day specified therein is declared to be a public holiday, such declaration shall in no way affect the validity of anything done on such day for the purposes of that subsection.”

Further, Chapter VII Article 31(3) of the Constitution states: “The poll for the election of the president shall be taken not less than one month and not more than two months before the expiration of the term of office of the president in office.”

The EC Chairman said that essential measures had already been initiated to prepare for the upcoming Presidential Election, including the formation of the electoral registry, with all necessary measures having been undertaken by the commission to prepare themselves for the impending election.

“The Government Printer has confirmed the availability of papers for printing purposes and we have been allocated Rs. 10 billion for election expenses. The funds will be released accordingly, with the commission spending money initially and then seeking reimbursement from the Treasury.

“Furthermore, we have already assembled a pool of Government employees willing to undertake election duties, from which the necessary workforce will be selected. The security aspect of the election process will be managed by the Police,” he added.

Meanwhile, President Ranil Wickremesinghe reiterated that the Presidential Election would be held this year despite attempts by the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) to promote the holding of the General Election first.

A series of events will be held over a period of three days beginning today (17) in the Northern and Eastern regions as well as Colombo to mark the end of war 15 years ago.

Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) leader Udaya Gammanpila yesterday (16) said that nominee to be the next US Ambassador to Colombo Elizabeth K. Horst had revealed that the Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa government announced a ban on foreign research vessels’ entry into Sri Lankan waters on January 1 this year at the behest of the US.

The Gampaha High Court Trial-at-Bar acquitted the four accused including a Major involved in the shooting incident that resulted in the deaths of three individuals and the injury of several others during a protest for clean drinking water in Rathupaswala on August 1, 2013.

Former Army Commander General Mahesh Senanayake who joined the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) today has been appointed the head of the party's Ranaviru Balakaya. Ranawiru Balakaya is a group of ex-military men who support the SJB. He received the appointment from Party Leader Sajith Premadasa this morning.

The Indian Navy has arrested 14 Sri Lankan fishermen along with five boats for crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) and for fishing sea cucumber on Thursday, May 16, 2024.

Showery and windy conditions arebexpected to enhance during th enext few days from today evening due to pre-monsoonal conditions over the country and surrounding sea areas. Heavy rainfall above 100 mm can be expected at some places in Western,Sabaragamuwa, North-western provinces and in Galle and Matara districts.

Over 70 international transitional justice and human rights scholars have urged the Sri Lankan Government to halt the establishment of a Commission for Truth, Unity and Reconciliation (CTUR) as it has been rejected by victim groups and the broader national context is not conducive for such a process.

Former Speaker and National Movement for Social Justice Chairperson Karu Jayasuriya voiced his profound regret yesterday over the Police’s handling of the porridge distribution event in Sampur commemorating the victims of the war and enforced disappearances.

General Secretary of Amnesty International, Agnès Callamard, is scheduled to visit Mullivaikkal, in the Mullaithivu District, where the combined security forces defeated the LTTE.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe will attend the 10th World Water Forum High-Level Meeting in Indonesia, from 18 - 20 May at the invitation of Indonesian President Joko Widodo, the President's Media Division (PMD) said.

A specialized delegation will leave for Russia on the direction of President Ranil Wickremesinghe to investigate into the welfare of Sri Lankans amidst the on-going Russian-Ukraine war, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Tharaka Balasuriya said today.

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) national list MP Mayantha Dissanayake has been appointed as the party's District Leader for Nuwara Eliya. Dissanayake, who made this announcement at a media briefing said he has also been appointed as the party organiser for the Nuwara Eliya constituency.

Claiming that relatives and comrades have a right to commemorate the war dead, NPP MP Vijitha Herath said today that the government must take steps to protect their rights.

A new election focused alliance led by the Sri Lanka Freedom Party’s (SLFP) Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva faction and the group of Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna breakaway Opposition Parliamentarians led by Nimal Lanza is to be launched next month (June) from Hambantota, said Opposition Parliamentarian Anura Priyadarshana Yapa.

In response to complaints received regarding questions 09 and 39 of the GCE (O/L) Science Paper 1, the Examinations Commissioner General has announced a decision to award two free marks to all candidates who attempted these questions.

In the wake of the recent mass withdrawal of AstraZeneca vaccines due to concerns over rare blood clots, Sri Lanka health experts emphasized that individuals who have received the AstraZeneca vaccine need not harbour undue fears regarding its safety.

A delegation comprising 15 officials of the Sri Lankan Supreme Court completed a four-day training programme from May 9 to13 at the Supreme Court of India, a statement from the Indian High Commission said.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe has instructed Prime Minister and Local Government (LG) Minister Dinesh Gunawardena to look into the possibility of invalidating the nominations accepted for the postponed 2023 (last year) LG elections.

Three females and a male were arrested by the Sampur Police on Sunday night for violating a court order by holding a commemoration event in remembrance of the Mullivaikkal war dead. According to sources, the arrested had allegedly distributed porridge to neighbours in memory of their relatives who were killed during the armed conflict.

United States’ Assistant Secretary Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, Donald Lu, called on President Ranil Wickremesinghe today (13) at the Presidential Secretariat.