The Black Cap Movement, a group aligned with the ‘Aragalaya’ or citizens struggle, says state sector employees deployed for election duties must agree to engage in such duties without extra payment.

Issuing a press release, the organization said employees must consider election duties as part of the public administration process and given the circumstances should agree to not accept payment considering it a national duty. The organisation noted that the Election Commission is currently facing a conundrum as despite needing Rs. 12 billion to conduct the poll, only Rs. 10 billion has been set aside in the budget. According to the Election Commission of Sri Lanka, around 200 000 officials are expected to be deployed for election duties.

The movement said it is likely that state sector employees will agree to the proposal given that many employee unions and political parties have expressed their support to the holding of an election. The organisation said that a vote would also burden the national economy and highlighted the need to conduct the election in a cost-effective manner. “If not, the public will have to face queues to obtain essentials as well as more power cuts,” it said.