Some 700,000 public servants eligible to cast postal votes this week

Strict adherence to health guidelines urged

More than 705,000 public servants are set to cast their postal vote this week, marking the first stage of the Parliamentary elections.

Voting will be held on July 14 and 15 for public sector employees other than those in the District Secretariats, Election offices, police stations, security force camps, Department of Civil Security Force and in the Health sector. They will be able to vote on July 16 and on July 17 until noon.

Those who are unable to cast their votes this week will be able to do so on July 20 and 21 at District Secretariats or at the election office where their service station is located.

Elections Commissioner General Saman Sri Ratnayake said they had received 753,037 applications and 705,085 had been accepted.

The 47,430 applications were rejected due to lack of details in the applications or shortcomings in the applications, he said.

Election Commission media spokesman Channa P de Silva said voting public need not have any fears as the Election Commission had made arrangements for health guidelines to be strictly followed.

According to these Health Ministry guidelines, both voters and officials would have to wear face masks, and sanitise hands and maintain a one-metre physical distance, he said.

To help maintain physical distancing, polls officials have been advised to select spacious places as polling booths.