Tuesday Dec 03, 2024
Tuesday Dec 03, 2024
Saturday, 31 August 2024 00:21 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Chief Observer Nacho Sánchez Amor
- Pic by Sameera Wijesinghe
By Charumini de Silva
The European Union (EU) Election Observation Mission (EOM) yesterday announced that they have noted a significant shift in focus from divisive communal rhetoric to economic issues in the lead-up to the 2024 Presidential election.
“Unlike previous elections, the current campaign has seen an increased focus on discussions related to economic issues,” European Union Parliament Member and EOM Chief Observer Nacho Sánchez Amor told journalists yesterday,
He highlighted this change while announcing the deployment of the EOM, which will consist of a core team of 10 election experts who began work on 14 August and expand their presence on 29 August with deployment of 26 long-term observers across all nine provinces.
Amor announced that a total of 80 observers will be monitoring the electoral process to ensure a comprehensive and accurate assessment.
“The long-term observers are our eyes and ears on the ground. They will observe every aspect of the electoral process to capture a complete picture of this complex election,” he said.
He also explained that the EU’s decision to deploy EOM to Sri Lanka underscores the importance of the EU’s partnership with the country and its commitment to supporting democratic values.
“This is a crucial election as it is the first since the Aragalaya,” he said, adding that they were very happy with the peaceful environment thus far.
Expressing satisfaction on the ground situation, Amor stressed that it is important to maintain the same energy and environment till this election is conducted peacefully, transparently and inclusively with all voters and candidates maintaining confidence in the process and outcome.
The EU EOM will observe and analyse various aspects of the electoral process such as the work of the election administration, the legal framework, the conduct of campaign, the work of media and the role of social media networks in the electoral process as well as the overall space for political and civic participation. The EU EOM is assessing the extent to which elections are conducted in compliance with national law, as well as with regional and international standards Sri Lanka has signed up to. This is the seventh EU EOM deployed to Sri Lanka since 2000.
Guided by principles of independence, impartiality and non-interference, the EU EOM will utilise a robust methodology for long-term countrywide observations.
Two days after the elections, the EU EOM will issue a preliminary statement and hold a press conference in Colombo and a comprehensive final report which will also include recommendations for future electoral reform, which will be published and presented to the authorities some two months after the completion of the electoral process.
Amor also commended the Government for implementing some of the key recommendations made by the previous EU election observation mission. “It reflects ongoing collaboration between Sri Lanka and the EU to strengthen democratic institutions and processes in the country,” he added.
