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Foreign observers say their wide-ranging focus strenghthened democratic process
View(s):By Ishu Bandara
International election observers focused on the infrastructure facilities provided to voters, enhancing transparency in political finance, advancing women’s participation in public life, and Sri Lanka’s political landscape in general, as there were no serious violations or irregularities in the conduct of the poll.
However, they questioned the need for the imposing of a curfew on the night of the election after what appeared to be a free and fair election with almost zero violations.
Nacho Sánchez Amor, a Member of the European Parliament from Spain and Chief Observer of the European Union Election Observation Mission (EUEOM), said the 2024 presidential election was a pivotal step for Sri Lanka, marking the first electoral contest after the unprecedented economic and political crises of 2022.
“The Election Commission conducted the process independently and with resolve, ensuring transparency at all key stages of the election. However, we questioned the reason for the government’s imposition of a curfew immediately after announcing that the presidential election had been conducted in a free and fair manner,” he said.
The EU and other international observation teams mainly noted the lack of women’s participation, despite Sri Lanka being the first country to elect a female prime minister in 1960. “Women’s political participation remains limited, especially in decision-making roles.” However, they stated that women played an active role in campaign activities, particularly as supporters and party workers.
Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) Executive Director Brizza Rosales noted EC successfully managed the election process, but there was a lack of efforts to educate voters. These efforts remain inadequate, especially in rural areas, among the elderly, people with disabilities, and ethnic minorities.
They said that while voters are generally familiar with the voting process, their understanding of electoral regulations, including preferential voting, was limited.
The Sunday Times spoke to the heads of the international observation teams and questioned if they overstepped their mandate by including in their final report their observations on the political climate, human rights, and constitutional provisions in Sri Lanka.
Chief EU observer Nacho Sánchez Amor said they were not in Sri Lanka to impose or evaluate a country’s behaviour based on its values, laws, or standards. “What we aim to do is assess your country’s compliance with its commitments under international treaties, particularly the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. We didn’t come here to say, ‘You must do this.’ Rather, we check the extent to which you are fulfilling the international commitments your country has signed,” he said.
Mr. Sánchez said the decision regarding the participation of the EU Election Observation Mission in the next election in Sri Lanka is a decision that should be determined through political dialogue between the European Union’s External Action Service and the Sri Lankan government.
Former Seychelles President and the Commonwealth Observer Group Chairperson Danny Faure told the Sunday Times it was important for international observers to come to Sri Lanka, even if the elections were conducted in a free and fair manner.
“Sri Lanka is a member of the Commonwealth, and we share the same values. When a Commonwealth observer comes to the country, it holds significance; it shows support for the country. We will not address any observations that are outside the conventions you have agreed to. All of these, including human rights commitments, are ones you have signed. Everything related to inclusivity has also been agreed to by your country. Our role is to assess the application of these conventions’ laws in your country,” he said.
International Observation Team FEMBoSA Chairperson Fuwad Thowfeek said the presence of foreign observers would give the election validity, professionalism, and transparency. He also stated that it highlighted the maturity of Sri Lanka’s democracy, systems, and people to the entire world.
He noted that, in the past, the United States used to be seen as demonstrating electoral maturity, but today, “we can observe the same in Sri Lanka’s election process.”
ANFREL’s Rosales said they appreciated the opportunity to clarify their role and the value they brought as election observers, in alignment with the mandate to support democratic processes in Asia, including Sri Lanka.
“Even when elections are conducted flawlessly by national officials, the presence of foreign observers adds an extra layer of impartiality and credibility. Additionally, we monitor compliance with international election standards, ensuring that the election is not only fair but also perceived as such on a global scale,” she said.
Ms. Rosales added that their reports are accurate reflections of the electoral environment, contributing constructively to democratic processes. “Our mandate is to uphold democratic principles and promote transparency in elections across the region, and our presence in Sri Lanka is part of that commitment,’ Ms. Rosales said.
| Local observers hail conduct of poll as historic milestone Local election observation groups declared that the recently concluded presidential election was a historic milestone for being free and fair. However, they noted the need to improve infrastructure facilities for voters, including the differently abled and senior citizens. People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) Executive Director Rohana Hettiarchchi said that compared to previous Sri Lankan elections, the 2024 presidential election stood out as the only one with zero violations reported during the post-election period, making it a historically peaceful election. However, he pointed out that the misuse of state resources by those in power remained a concern.  Local election observers at a news conference. Pic by Nilan Maligaspe Institute for Democratic Reforms and Electoral Studies (IRES) Executive Director Manjula Gajanayake expressed concern over the growing number of presidential candidates, noting that the number had increased from six in 1982 to 39 in 2024. He warned that without stricter regulations, this number could continue to rise. According to IRES, three candidates have gone missing; additionally, 15 candidates ran their campaigns with minimal support, having no more than 10 supporters. Three candidates switched their allegiance to support major contenders. Notably, four of the 39 candidates did not have social media accounts and did not engage in social media campaigning. Domestic election monitoring organisations developed a tool called “Chanda Salli Meetare” to monitor and analyse election spending for the 2024 presidential election. Its primary goal is to support the enforcement of the Regulations of Election Expenditure Act No. 03 of 2023 (REEA) in Sri Lanka. Mr. Gajanayake called for new constitutional provisions to limit the powers of the incumbent president if he or she contested while still in office. In the 2024 presidential election, the Election Commission collaborated with Hashtag Generation, an organisation doing digital media observations for the EC. Hashtag Generation Programmes Chief Dharshatha Gamage said that in addition to their digital media observations, they were also tracking campaign finance expenditures through the “Chanda Salli Meetare” tool. Professor Arjuna Parakrama of the Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) also voiced concerns regarding the lack of proper facilities for disabled voters at polling stations. | |
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