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Voting facilities for overseas Lankans not practical: Polls chief
View(s):A request to consider provision for Sri Lankans living overseas to vote at future elections has been turned down by the Elections Commissioner on the grounds that the move was ‘not practical’ and would need amendments to existing laws.
Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya told the Sunday Times that the issue was raised at a meeting with political party secretaries and representatives on Friday, but said it was not practical as Returning Officers would have to be sent to each of the countries.
“It will not be an easy task to send so many officers to the countries where Sri Lankans reside and therefore it will not be possible to do that”, he said.
However, most other countries which provide the facility use their overseas missions to conduct the poll.
The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) representative attending the meeting had made the request and thereafter it was supported by other political parties saying that it would help Sri Lankans working abroad to be involved in electing their representatives.
JVP representative Sunil Watagala told the Sunday Times he believed the move would help those who are employed in Middle East countries for short spells to cast their vote.
Mr. Watagala said it is up to the Elections Commissioner to consider the proposal.
Several countries have made provision for their citizens living overseas to cast their votes at selected locations in other foreign countries.
The Maldives, Australia, the United States and South Africa are among the countries which have made provision for their voters living in Sri Lanka to cast their vote when an election is held.