Sri Lankan presidential polls to be held between Nov 15 & Dec 7: EC

The presidential elections in Sri Lanka would be held between November 15 and December 7, the country’s Election Commission has said, clarifying that according to constitutional provisions, the polls must be held one month before the end of the current president’s term.

The Election Commission’s clarification on the constitutional provisions regarding the date for the next presidential elections came, after President Maithripala Sirisena said last week in New Delhi that the presidential polls is likely to take place on December 7.

President Sirisena’s 5-year term is scheduled to end on January 8, 2020.Sirisena was elected for a 5 year-term on January 8, 2015 when he challenged the incumbent Mahinda Rajapaksa.

The former strongman had called snap elections two years ahead of the end of his second term.