5th August 2020
I went to cast my vote today - the general elections - to elect the members of parliament for the whole Island of Sri Lanka. One had to select the political party and mark 3 candidates for ones choice.
We are in the middle of a COVID 19 epidemic. The following procedures were adopted to eliminate cross infection of the Corona virus:-
1. Everyone had to wear a mask - The officials and voters.
2. Social distancing in the voters queue using yellow markers on the floor was done.
3. Hand sanitizers were sprayed on to the hands of voters.
4. ID cards were inspected and the names called out
5. Left little finger was marked with indelible ink with a no-hand touch technique
6. Ballot paper was handed to the voter.
7. The voter had to bring his/her own pen to mark the ballot box.
8. On exiting there was a hand sanitizer spray bottle.
A well ordered, disciplined voting.
I was reminded of the early 1960s, general election when we were medical students.
My friend DC Senaratne was appointed to look after the interests of a leftist party, in an election booth in the Colombo 7 area. Wearing a red shirt and red beret of the party he represented 'Sena' was seated inside the electoral booth, when he spotted Prof. Ranasinghe, queuing up to cast his vote. 'Ranaya' was a strict disciplinarian. Sena quickly vacated his seat and vanished from sight. Party loyalties had their limits.
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