Polls Chief assures C’wealth observers of integrity of results process
January 5, 2015- Group will deploy observers in key battleground provinces, including N-E and North Central
- Issues raised about military role in election process, say observers
- Will assess situation and seek meeting with military if necessary
Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya with the group of election monitors from Asia Pacific
By Dharisha Bastians
The Commonwealth Observer Group yesterday admitted that concerns had been raised about the possibility of computerised fraud during the transmission of results, but insisted that Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya had assured them of the integrity of the process.
“The Elections Commissioner has given us a detailed explanation from the time boxes leave the polling station till the transmittal of the results to his office,” Commonwealth Observer Group Chair Bharrat Jagdeo, told a news conference last evening.
The Commonwealth Observer Group yesterday admitted that concerns had been raised about the possibility of computerised fraud during the transmission of results, but insisted that Elections Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya had assured them of the integrity of the process.
“The Elections Commissioner has given us a detailed explanation from the time boxes leave the polling station till the transmittal of the results to his office,” Commonwealth Observer Group Chair Bharrat Jagdeo, told a news conference last evening.
Jagdeo, who is a former President of Guyana, said the Polls Chief had assured the Group that there were several safeguards to secure the integrity of the process.
Most parties appeared to have confidence in the Elections Commissioner, Jagdeo said.
The nine-member observer mission from the Commonwealth held their arrival press conference yesterday. They had been invited by the Elections Commissioner of Sri Lanka.
“We will consider among other things, whether conditions exist for credible elections, including a fair election environment, whether public media has been impartial, the transparency of the entire process, whether voters are free to express their will and whether the counting and results process is transparent,” the Group’s Chair said in his arrival statement.
The group will deploy in key battleground provinces around the island on polling day.
Jagdeo told journalists that Commonwealth observers would be in the North, East, North Central, North Western, Western, Southern Provinces on election day. “They will most probably be travelling in these regions as extensively as possible to cover as much as possible,” the Chair added, saying the observers could not be present at all polling stations.
Jagdeo explained that in their meetings with political representatives and other stakeholders, concerns had been expressed about the integrity of the process on election day from the time the ballot boxes leave polling stations till the results were issued by the Elections Chief.
Several issues had been raised during their meetings with political representatives and others, the Observer Group said.
“There are concerns about violence against Opposition candidates, the role of the military in the election process and that there could be attempts by the military to intimidate voters on polling day,” the Head of the Group said.
Asked if the Group had met with military officials to discuss these concerns, the Group’s Chair said they had no such meeting planned. “We will assess the situation and if we find it necessary we may request such a meeting,” Jagdeo said.
Most parties appeared to have confidence in the Elections Commissioner, Jagdeo said.
The nine-member observer mission from the Commonwealth held their arrival press conference yesterday. They had been invited by the Elections Commissioner of Sri Lanka.
“We will consider among other things, whether conditions exist for credible elections, including a fair election environment, whether public media has been impartial, the transparency of the entire process, whether voters are free to express their will and whether the counting and results process is transparent,” the Group’s Chair said in his arrival statement.
The group will deploy in key battleground provinces around the island on polling day.
Jagdeo told journalists that Commonwealth observers would be in the North, East, North Central, North Western, Western, Southern Provinces on election day. “They will most probably be travelling in these regions as extensively as possible to cover as much as possible,” the Chair added, saying the observers could not be present at all polling stations.
Jagdeo explained that in their meetings with political representatives and other stakeholders, concerns had been expressed about the integrity of the process on election day from the time the ballot boxes leave polling stations till the results were issued by the Elections Chief.
Several issues had been raised during their meetings with political representatives and others, the Observer Group said.
“There are concerns about violence against Opposition candidates, the role of the military in the election process and that there could be attempts by the military to intimidate voters on polling day,” the Head of the Group said.
Asked if the Group had met with military officials to discuss these concerns, the Group’s Chair said they had no such meeting planned. “We will assess the situation and if we find it necessary we may request such a meeting,” Jagdeo said.
