Sri Lanka holds coronavirus-proof test vote ahead of election

Image copyright
AFP

Image caption

Face masks were worn and disinfectant sprayed during the exercise

Authorities in Sri Lanka have held mock elections as part of a test of new anti-coronavirus voting measures.

Voters wore face masks, stood 1m (3ft) apart in queues and brought their own pens and pencils to mark ballot papers.

Officials were protected by plastic screens or face shields, and sprayed disinfectants on voters.

Sri Lanka postponed parliamentary elections, originally scheduled for April, because of the virus. The vote is due to be held on 5 August.

Sunday’s trial run was held in four of the country’s 22 electoral districts. It was designed to get voters used to the new system and see if extra voting time was needed.

Image copyright
AFP

“We were very pleased to see that all those who volunteered to take part in this exercise today wore face masks,” election commission chairman Mahinda Deshapriya told reporters.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who won last November’s presidential election by a landslide, is hoping to secure a two-thirds parliamentary majority for his party, which would give him sweeping powers.

Image copyright
NurPhoto via Getty

Image caption

Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, a top general during Sri Lanka’s brutal civil war, was elected president last year

The Sri Lankan government imposed strict restrictions in March in an effort to stop the spread of the coronavirus. The curbs included a 24-hour nationwide curfew and a ban on any gathering.

The country has eased the lockdown in recent weeks, although a night-time curfew remains in place.

According to the Worldometer website, almost 1,900 Covid-19 cases have been recorded in Sri Lanka since January, and 11 people people have died with the virus.

Leave a reply:

Site Footer

Sliding Sidebar

About us

Jehu's Blog site covers all niches from A-Z categories. #Viral News #Have you not heard.

Contact us

Email: jehusblog@gmail.com
Phone: +2348063611906

Advertise with us

Contact +2348063611906 for Sponspored Ads,website promotion,youtube video promotion,etc.