Most peaceful election in the recent history: election monitors

The general election that took place yesterday was the most peaceful and fair in the recent history of the country, election monitors say.

Rohana Hettiarchchie Executive Director of PAFFREL in a statement said, “The predominant feature of these elections was the deference given to rulings of the Election Commissioner by the government, contesting political parties and by the supporters of the political parties.  This showed a real shift in power towards the elections commissioner who was not contesting the government to ensure that the law was implemented.  The change was especially stark in relation to the election that preceded this, the presidential election of January 2015 in which violations of election law that involved the gross abuse and misuse of state resources took place on a large scale, including on Election Day itself.  

A total of 212 incidents were reported on Election Day, but none of them were of serious consequence. The police reported 35 arrests. There were a total of 1194 violations reported to PAFFREL during the campaign period and a further 129 violations during the two day cooling off period for a total of 1323 violations. Among the more serious were three killings.

PAFFREL took measures to deploy stationary monitors at all 12,314 polling stations.  In identified risk areas, measures were   taken to employ 25 special vehicles for monitoring.  Another 335 vehicles, each containing 4 expert monitors, were deployed in all the Divisional Secretariats.  13 foreign monitors from 

Civil society took an unprecedented interest in supporting election monitoring groups and in advocating for free and fair elections.  The March 12 Movement campaigned vigorously for the political parties to nominate clean and honest candidates and urged that voters should cast their vote only for such candidates from their political parties of choice. We recommend that the next Parliament should consider ways of enforcing limitations on campaign finance to create a more level playing field, an advance voting system for those with disabilities or who cannot vote on polling day, providing the vote for migrant workers abroad and increasing women’s representation in elected bodies.  

There is also a need for the Election Commissioner’s Department to work together with civil society to educate the general population about the electoral process and the deepening of democratic culture in the country.”