 Meeting with health and security authorities  Report to be sought from health authorities By Skandha Gunasekara Amidst a fierce debate on whether a date for the impending parliamentary elections should be scheduled now or whether the election should be postponed further, the Election Commission (EC) said it will take into account the views of health authorities before making its final decision. “We will meet with the health authorities, security forces, and the relevant officials on Monday (20) to get an update on the spread of the virus to determine if the environment is right to hold an election,” EC Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya told The Sunday Morning yesterday (18). These meetings will be held in advance of a crucial meeting scheduled for later tomorrow (20) at which the EC will arrive at its decision. Deshapriya said that he is unable to comment on the matter before this meeting. “Till we have met and come to a decision, I cannot comment on the future of the parliamentary elections,” he said. He further noted that other matters such as reconvening Parliament did not fall under the purview of the EC or the Election Secretariat. “The President can summon Parliament if he wishes. That is his prerogative. The Election Commission is only tasked with conducting elections,” he said. In the meantime, many have called for the indefinite postponement of the elections until the Covid-19 situation is fully contained in the country. Former Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) Parliamentarian Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said that it was the wrong time to hold elections. “The virus is not contained. It has now gone to the last phase and is spreading at the community level. It must be contained. Holding elections now would be detrimental to this goal,” Dr. Jayatissa said. He pointed out that the number of newly infected patients was reducing not because the virus was being contained, but due to the lack of testing. “We are not doing enough testing at all. That is why the numbers of new infections are low, not because the spread has been contained. It is up to the President to take a decision on this matter if he cares about the wellbeing of the people,” he said. The United National Party (UNP), Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), and several others have expressed objection to holding the general elections until the threat of Covid-19 is eliminated, and have sought discussions with the EC.