The Centre for Monitoring Free and Fair Elections and Democratic Rights (MENIKE) has appealed to the President, the Minister of Public Administration and the Commissioner of Elections to declare January 27, the day after the Presidential poll, as a Public, Bank and Mercantile holiday.

“Since the election is not held (being) during a weekend, there is tendency for the workers from distant areas like Hambantota, Matara, Anuradhapura etc. not going to their villages to vote, as they need more than a day to return to their workplaces,” Centre Chairman Chandrasiri de Silva said in a media statement.

Since 2005 this group has been advocating for the voting rights of externally and internally migrant Sri Lankan workers and this issue was highlighted in the Report prepared by MENIKE in the 2005 Presidential Election, the statement said.