News
2020 General Election
Chairman of the Election Commission Mahinda Deshapriya said that he had voted yesterday for the first time since 2011. Speaking to the media after voting at the polling station at Lindsay Balika Vidayalaya in Colombo-03, he said that he wanted to convince voters that it was safe to vote.
“I am 65 years old and I wanted to show everyone that the polling centres were safe. Some elderly people are wary of visiting public places due to COVID-19. I wanted to show everyone that the polling stations are 100% COVID-19 free. I hope this will convince people to come and vote,” he said.
Deshapriya also asked the youth to motivate their parents and grandparents to vote. The elections were the only time when people could directly influence how the country was governed and they should not waste that opportunity, he said.
Deshapriya said that election officials, police and health officials had taken steps to ensure that the polling centres were safe and that everyone involved had been educated on the health guidelines (RK)
