Sri Lanka Asks Detractors At HRC Not To Discredit The NPC Election Process Or Prejudge Its Outcome And Impact
September 19, 2013
Exercising a ‘right of reply’ with regard to references made to Sri Lanka by Germany, the US and Ireland under Agenda Item 4 – General Debate at the ongoing 24th Session of the Human Rights Council, the Sri Lanka delegation on Thursday (19 September 2013) said; it seemed ironic that at a time when for the first time since the introduction of the Provincial Council system in 1987 elections to the Northern Provincial Council are to be held later this week, that Germany should choose to discredit the process and prejudge its outcome and impact. It was noted that the commitment of the Government to ensure the transparent and free and fair conduct of the election not only to the Northern Provincial Council, but also to the Central and North Western Provincial Councils which go to the polls this Saturday is clearly demonstrated by the presence of 24 election observers from the South Asian region as well as from Commonwealth countries, on the invitation of the Elections Commissioner.
We publish below the statement in full;
Mr. President,
My delegation wishes to exercise its right of reply with regard to references made to Sri Lanka by Germany, the US and Ireland under Agenda Item 4 – General Debate,
Manisha Gunasekera, Deputy Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka in Geneva.
It seems ironic when for the first time since the introduction of the Provincial Council system in 1987, elections to the Northern Provincial Council are to be held later this week on 21 September 2013, thatGermany should choose to discredit the process and prejudge its outcome and impact. The commitment of the Government to ensure the transparent and free and fair conduct of the election not only to the Northern Provincial Council, but also to the Central and North Western Provincial Councils which go to polls this Saturday is clearly demonstrated by the presence of 24 election observers from the South Asian region as well as from Commonwealth countries, on the invitation of the Elections Commissioner. It may be noted that there has been no practice inSri Lanka for provincial council elections to be observed by external entities. However the Election Commissioner took this initiative vis a vis the Northern Provincial Council as elections had not been held over a very long period of time, and as a confidence building measure. Representatives from local NGOs are observing the polls of the elections to the Central and North Western Provincial Councils, which are also being conducted on the same day.
