Election concludes by international standards: FEMBoSA

Thursday, 20 August 2015 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Below-lead-1 Forum of the Election Management Bodies of South Asia (FEMBoSA) Head of Mission Ibrahim Waheed addressing the media yesterday in Colombo - Pic by Upul Abayasekara

By Chamodi Gunwardana

The Forum of Election Management Bodies of South Asia (FEMBoSA) yesterday asserted that the 2015 general election of Sri Lanka had met the international standards of the free and fair elections.

Head of Mission Ibrahim Waheed stressed that Sri Lanka had proven that it too could hold elections in a peaceful manner.

“A few years ago world media reported that Sri Lanka was having a critical political situation and it does not have sufficient disciplinary levels to conduct a peaceful election. However the country has shown that those allegations were wrong. We observed that voters expressed their votes without fear,” Waheed said.

Commenting on areas that should be developed, Waheed stated that the key election institutions must raise more awareness among voters about their valuable votes.

“The Sri Lankan voting population should know the responsibilities they have as voters and the value of votes. They must know how their votes can affect the country’s better future,” he asserted.

Waheed used the opportunity to express appreciation for Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya and his staff for their contribution.

“We believe that the ultimate credit of the success should go to the people who worked in polling and counting stations. They have done their duties in the frame of the democracy,” he emphasised.