The new President to be elected next week can dissolve parliament about 10 and 12 days after being sworn in, Commissioner General of Elections Saman Sri Ratnayake has said.The next parliamentary election could be held 35 days after the dissolution of Parliament, Ratnayake said, adding that it had to be held within 66 days, he added.
“The next President could also choose to continue with the current parliament until its term ends next year,” he said.
All election propaganda must cease by midnight on 18 Sept., with the presidential election scheduled to be held on 21 September, Ratnayake said.
There are 13,417 polling stations.
Meanwhile, election monitors have reported that election activities have been peaceful thus far.
However, the misuse of state property had been considerable, Manjula Gajanayake, Executive Director of the Institute for Democratic Reforms and Electoral Studies (IRES), told The Island.
“The President’s media unit and the Cabinet of ministers have acted in a highly unethical manner. I fear this has set a very bad precedent,” he said.