ISMATHUL RAHMAN
NEGOMBO : Your fingers will be marked with indelible ink with disposable cotton buds at the upcoming elections which will be held on August 05
During a mock poll conducted among 200 voters on Friday June 12, officials of the Election Commission painted the fingers of the voters with disposable cotton buds. Earlier, marker pens were used for this purpose.
The experimental poll was conducted according to the quarantine regulations spelt out by the ministry of health on account of the Covid-19 crisis. The operations took place between 8.30 am and 12.30 pm to cover a crowd of 200 voters.
K.J.S. Madhawa, former election commissioner M.M.Mohamed Sunil Jayalath from the Gampaha Election Office, Aisha Pathirana, health director Chandra Senaratne, Mayor of Colombo Dayan Lanza and police officers were present at the mock operations.
The voters were asked to stand at a distance of one meter between two voters in queue and the officials at the polls were wearing mask and hand gloves to protect themselves from the virus.
Chairman of the National Election Commission Mahinda Deshapriya said Friday’s exercise had been a success.
Printing of ballot papers for the General Election 2020 started on Tuesday,June 2, the Government Printer, Gangani Kalpana Liyanage said.Over 17 million ballot papers are due to be printed for the upcoming election.
The general election was to be held on April 25, but had to be postponed due to COVID-19 pandemic
The selected voters were earlier briefed at their homes and asked to bring along pens to mark ballot papers. They were given strict instructions to wear facemasks.
Speaking to the media earlier, head of the election commission, Mahinda Deshapriya said the health guidelines had recommended physical distancing, washing hands and wearing facemasks. Election officials also paid attention to the time it took to cast a vote in keeping with the health guidelines.
