The government has declared a general holiday on 7 January as the 12th parliamentary election is scheduled to be held on that day.

Earlier, the Election Commission (EC) instructed the public administration ministry to take necessary steps to declare a general holiday on 7 January on this occasion.  

In light of the instruction, the public administration ministry issued a notification on Thursday declaring 7 January as a general holiday.

It is a longstanding practice that the polling day marks a nationwide general holiday.

It has been said in the notification, according to the demand of the Election Commission Secretariat, on the occasion of the 12th national elections on 7 January, all government, semi-government, autonomous and private offices/institutions/organisations and teachers/officers/employees of public and private educational institutions in the country will exercise their franchise in the election.

A general holiday has been declared across the country to facilitate voting, read the notification.