Long delayed election related COVID-19 regulations gazetted

• Health Minister issues Gazette more than a month after guidelines finalised by health authorities
• Number attending meetings where party leaders attend raised to 500 while others can have 300
• House-to-house campaigning groups restricted to five

Health and Indigenous Medical Services Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi issued the long-awaited Gazette regulations cited as the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) (Elections) Regulations No. 1 of 2020 last night.

They were promulgated under the Quarantine and Prevention of Diseases Ordinance.

The regulations make it mandatory for every person who intends to organise a meeting in relation to an election during the period of an election to give written notice 24 hours prior to the commencement of such meeting to the medical officer of health of the area in which such meeting is to be held.

The number of those attending the meetings are restricted to 300 but in instances the leader of a political party or an independent group participates at such meetings, the number of persons attending such meeting can go up to five hundred.

The organisers are required to maintain a record of the name, identity card number and contact detail of every person attending such meetings; provide adequate hand-washing facility with soap or sanitiser for the persons attending such meeting and ensure that every person who attends such premises washes their hands before entering the premises; ensure social distancing not less than one metre between two persons including speakers attending such meeting; ensure that every person who attends such meeting wears a face mask at all times and disinfect equipment such as microphones immediately use by a person.

A group of persons visiting the houses of electors during the period of an election for the purpose of canvassing for the votes of such electors or distribution of hand bills or other printed materials shall not exceed five.

Such persons at all times must wear a face mask and maintain social distancing of not less than one metre between themselves and between themselves and occupants of the house; and sanitise their hands before distributing hand bills or other printed materials to the occupants of the house.

Candidates also have to maintain the facilities for hand-washing, social distancing etc. in their offices.

Candidates also have to ensure that no alcohol is brought into or consumed within such offices and its premises; and no games of chance or skills are played within such office and its premises.

Every person who is in any polling station and its premises, counting centres and its premises and the office of the Election Commission and its premises are also required to adhere to the health regulations.