Top US diplomat John Kerry has urged Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa to ensure that today’s elections are peaceful and credible, a US official said.
Kerry spoke with him on Tuesday “to underscore the government’s responsibility to ensure the January 8 elections will be free from violence and intimidation,” State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said yesterday.
The US secretary of state also pressed the Sri Lankan leader to ensure that “the vote counting is carried out credibly and transparently.”
Psaki said the US administration was concerned about reports of violence in the run-up to the vote, and urged the government to investigate any allegations of fraud.
“We urge the government, its election officials and police, all political and actors to ensure access to all vote centres for the voters to vote and counting centres for all international and domestic observers,” she added.
