Asian election monitors deployed across Sri Lanka

• 55 observers from S. Asian and Asia Pacific region to deploy in all districts on polling day
• Observers to travel outstation in teams today 
• Priority to make sure election is secure and peaceful 
• Flag concerns raised at meetings about abuse of State resources, voter intimidation
• Say received Opposition complaints about 400 roadblocks in north to discourage northern voters

Team leaders of the 55-member observer group from South Asia and Asia Pacific, Neelkanthan Uprety (left) and Dr. S.Y. Quraishi (right) addressing the media at the Galadari Hotel yesterday – Pic by Shehan Gunasekara

Asian election observers in the island for the hotly-contested presidential election on 8 January expressed concerns about the abuse of State resources and Police inaction, but remain confident Elections Chief Mahinda Deshapriya has matters in hand. “The Elections Commissioner of Sri Lanka exuded confidence, and after our discussions we felt his confidence was well placed,” former Chief Elections Commissioner of India S.Y. Quraishi who is leading the Asian Association of Election Authorities (AAEA) told the media yesterday. Quraishi said the main concerns expressed during their discussions so far were the abuse of State resources, the control of the State and private media by the ruling party and alleged discrimination by the Police force. “Most candidates and political representatives said by and large the process had been good, but they were apprehensive about the intimidation of voters and the Army in the north,” the former Indian Polls Chief told journalists at the Galadari Hotel last afternoon. Quraishi said the Opposition parties had complained the military had put up 400 roadblocks to prevent Tamils from voting in the north. “When we go out to the field, we will see if the roadblocks really exist,” he added. However, the senior Indian bureaucrat said Police had “guaranteed” a free and fair election in their meetings with the Asian observers. Both the AAEA and the Forum of Election Management Bodies of South Asia (FEMBoSA) have been in Sri Lanka since 17 December observing the first stage of the polls. Fifty-five election observers from the South Asian and Asia Pacific region will deploy in all 22 districts around the country on polling day, former Chief Elections Commissioner of Nepal, Neelkantha Uprety said. Dr. Quraishi and two other observers will travel to the North Central and Northern Provinces today, while other groups will deploy elsewhere to observe pre-polling, the group said. “If we see anything actionable, we will report it immediately,” Dr. Quraishi said. He said the group had heard concerns expressed about the intimidation of voters in some regions. “We will flag those issues and keep an eye,” the former Indian Elections Chief noted. “The most important thing we will like to see is voter participation, as the most important stakeholder in the election process,” he said. Uprety added that they did not want to see the election “procured”. “We hope that money and spending power doesn’t play a big role and that there will be a level playing field,” he said.