Colombo, July 19- Election Commission Chairman R.M.A.L.Ratnayake said yesterday that the Presidential election would be declared next week. 

Joining a televised discussion yesterday in a private television channel he clarified that his commission was not in a position to declare the election on July 17, the very first day it was authorized by law to do so, since the commission would then have to conduct the election, as per the Presidential Election Act, on September 17, the very first day it has to be conducted which is a poya day.

He pointed out that no election can be held on a poya day on cultural grounds and the logistical issues arising from the fact that September 17 being a poya would not permit the commission to hold the election on the next day, September 18 either.

Accordingly, the EC Chairman said the his commission would declare the Presidential election next week by announcing the nomination day. Earlier several leaders of Opposition political parties had requested the EC to declare the election on the earliest possible day, citing apparent moves by the leaders of the government to postpone the election.