The European Union Election Observer Mission (EU EOM) to Sri Lanka began its observation work in Colombo today (Tuesday 21) and they will monitor the election campaign in the run up to November 16 Presidential election.
Observers have been deployed to all nine provinces from Colombo today to monitor the pre-polls environment and also observe Election Day.
Deputy Chief Observer Dimitra Ioannou said 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.
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.
(LI)