Election monitors predict peaceful polls

From left: CMEV National Coordinator Manjula Gajanayake, National Polls Observation Center National Organiser Rasanga Harischandra, Transparency International National Coordinator Shan Wijethunga, CaFFE Executive Director Rajith Keerthi Tennakone, MFFE Convenor Manori Kalugampitiya, MDL Representator Daya Herath, PAFFREL National Organiser Sujeewa Gayanath, CMEV Co-convenor Udaya Kalupathirana - Pic by Shehan Gunasekara

By Chamodi Gunawardana

Several local and international election monitors yesterday said that the forthcoming general election would be more peaceful than previous votes.

Addressing a media briefing organised by Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL), representatives of the People’s Action for a Free and Fair Election (PAFEREL), the Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE), the Movement for Free and Fair Elections (MFFE) and the Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) revealed the facts and statistics uncovered by their ongoing monitoring work.  

According to these observations, there were 759 minor and 135 major incidents of election violence during the past month. Around 550 people were arrested by the Police over these incidents. The poll observers added that 40% of those were connected to the United National Party (UNP) while 38% were linked to the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA).

Commenting on the security measures that would be maintained during the election, the representatives stated that the Police and Special Task Force (STF) would provide sufficient protection for voters casting their ballot. They also noted that there would be around 31,000 local and 120 foreign election observers to monitor the general election on 17 August. 

The election monitors urged all citizens to be proactive by exercising their rights and voting sensibly.