A well-administered election day but challenges in the pre-election period, was the concludsion of the Commonwealth Expert Team that monitored the Sri Lankan Presidential polls on January 26.
The Commonwealth Secretary-General, Kamalesh Sharma, released the Final Report of the Commonwealth Expert Team on Monday 15 February 2010.
In issuing the report, he noted the Expert Team’s conclusion that “even though on the day of the election voters were free to express their will, shortcomings primarily in the pre-election period meant that overall the 2010 Presidential elections in
Mr Sharma was encouraged by the report’s finding that “the administrative arrangements for voting and counting were well conducted and the Commissioner of Elections and his staff across the country expended great effort to put in place procedures to ensure Sri Lankans were able to cast their ballots.”
Referring to post-election developments in the country, including the arrest of the main opposition candidate for the presidential election, the Secretary-General said: “These developments have increased tension. It is important that the rule of law and due process are applied.”
Mr Sharma also expressed the hope that “
The Secretary-General added: “Many of the problems identified reflect the same problems identified during previous elections. These problems – which have also been highlighted by the country’s own Commissioner of Elections – will hopefully receive urgent consideration. The Commonwealth is ready to assist as requested.”
The Report was completed and signed by all members of the Commonwealth Expert Team prior to their departure from
It was presented to the Commonwealth Secretary-General by the Chair of the Team, Senator K D Knight, a former Minister for Foreign Affairs of Jamaica. Before being made public, it was distributed to the President of Sri Lanka, leaders of political parties, the Commissioner of Elections and to all Commonwealth governments.
