(COLOMBO, LANKAPUVATH) –Sri Lanka implemented only three out of 26 recommendations made by EU election observers after the 2015 Presidential election.
The European Union Election Observer Mission (EU EOM) to Sri Lanka officially launched its observation work in Colombo today related to the 16 November Presidential election.
Observers were deployed to all nine provinces from Colombo today to monitor the pre-polls environment and also observe election day.
Deputy Chief Observer Dimitra Ioannou told reporters in Colombo today that the EU EOM will be meeting a wide range of election stakeholders in their areas and will send first-hand accounts from the field.
She said that the EU EOM will however not issue any public statements before election day and will issue a preliminary statement two days after election day.
A total of 80 EU EOM observers will be in Sri Lanka for its sixth EU EOM to Sri Lanka, the last being during the 2015 Presidential election.
Asked about past recommendations issued by the EU EOM and if they have been implemented, Ioannou said that after the 2015 Presidential election 26 recommendations were issued and three were fully implemented.
The recommendations implemented included the formation of the Elections Commission, training for election staff and on the quota for women in councils.
She said that the EU EOM hopes that the recommendations it submits after the November 16 Presidential election will be taken into consideration by the Election Commission, Parliament and others.
Ioannou asserted that the EU EOM cannot impose its recommendations on Sri Lanka but will only make proposals.
She said that the EU EOM will not interfere while the elections process is underway.
