Elections Commission Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya openly contradicted his fellow commission member Prof. Ratnajeevan Hoole on replacing postal votes with internet voting.

Addressing a press conference in Colombo, Hoole said Sri Lanka should replace postal votes with internet voting.

Intervening at that point, Deshapriya said it was the personal opinion of Prof. Hoole and not the opinion of the Elections Commission.

"Unfortunately, when he expresses his personal opinion, the commission comes under bombardment, " he added, assuring that Hoole was not affiliated with any party.

"The same thing happened when he talked about the possibility of none of the candidates getting over 50% at the Presidential election. He is a liberal person with free views. But this is his first election."

Deshapriya apologized to the public on behalf of Hoole over the latter's statements.