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International polls observers will be here once again but in smaller numbers
View(s):By Ishu Bandara
In preparation for the Sri Lankan parliamentary elections on Thursday, international election observation groups ANFREL, FEMBoSA, and the European Union have announced their readiness to monitor the polls.
These groups, which also observed the recent presidential election, will begin their mission on November 11, with smaller numbers however.
However, the Commonwealth has announced that it will not be sending any observers.
The smaller number of observers and the absence of certain groups signify that Sri Lanka’s recent presidential election was peaceful and transparent, free from irregularities. This has eased the concerns of international observers, leading to reduced global scrutiny of the country.
Former President of Seychelles and Chair of the Commonwealth Observer Group Danny Faure stated in the Sunday Times, during the previous Presidential Election, that it was important to visit Sri Lanka, as a Commonwealth member, to show support for free and fair elections. He emphasised that they would adhere to agreed conventions, including human rights commitments, and that their role was to assess the application of these conventions and laws in the country.
Despite previous statements, the Commonwealth has decided not to send any observers to the upcoming parliamentary election, stating that the presidential election took place very recently, and therefore they have chosen not to send observers again so soon.
Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) Executive Director Brizza Rosales told the Sunday Times: “We launched our mission on October 31 and deployed 13 long-term observers to monitor critical electoral processes over the next two weeks, including campaign activities, voter education, media coverage, administrative preparations, voting, counting, and post-election activities across Sri Lanka’s 22 electoral districts.”
ANFREL’s mission team consists of 30 observers, including two Electoral Analysts, a Mission Management Team, 13 Long-Term Observers (LTOs), and 10 Short-Term Observers (STOs) who will be deployed on November 11.
“Our observers are closely monitoring the campaign finance law’s implementation, which aims to curb financial influence and promote transparency. We are also examining inclusivity in the nomination process to ensure alignment with international standards supporting broad representation,” Rosales added.
With both long- and short-term observers in place, ANFREL will monitor the legal framework, key operational milestones, and accessibility for marginalized groups, including women, persons with disabilities, and disenfranchised voters. Additionally, they will review election-day activities, counting procedures, and any potential misuse of state resources.
ANFREL will release an interim report on November 17 in Colombo, followed by a comprehensive final report with in-depth findings and recommendations to strengthen future electoral processes and support sustainable democratic reforms.
The European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) has decided to send only a three-member delegation to observe the upcoming parliamentary election in Sri Lanka on November 14, 2024. Their decision to downscale the mission was influenced by their assessment of the recent presidential election, which was conducted in a free and fair manner, with no significant incidents of pre- or post-election violations. This observation has led the EU EOM to conclude that a comprehensive mission may not be essential for this parliamentary election.
However, the mission remains focused on certain key aspects of the electoral process. One of their primary concerns is the accessibility of polling facilities for elderly citizens and people with disabilities, ensuring these groups can participate in the election without barriers.
Additionally, they aim to assess the enforcement and impact of financial campaign regulations to ensure transparency and fairness in campaign financing and the EU EOM is particularly attentive to the level of female representation in leadership roles throughout the electoral process, reflecting their commitment to promoting gender equality in governance.
The member countries of FEMBoSA are the Election Management Bodies of South Asian countries, and Mr. Fuwad Thowfeek is the Chairperson of the FEMBoSA International Observation Team, as well as the Chairperson of the Elections Commission of the Maldives.
Mr. Thowfeek told the Sunday Times: “The Maldives Elections Commission has decided that my colleague, Dr. Mohamed Zahir, a Member of the Elections Commission of the Maldives, and I will be arriving in Colombo on the evening of November 11, 2024.”
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