Secretary-General Urges Sri Lanka to Establish a Strong Independent Election Commission

Secretary-General Don McKinnon today urged Sri Lanka to "seize the democratic opportunity" by taking up the recommendations of the Commonwealth Expert Team (CET) which was present for the 17 November 2005 Presidential Election. He said the country should move rapidly to establish an independent Election Commission "with the strength to make a difference".

In welcoming the CET report, which the Secretary-General has already sent to the President, the Commissioner of Elections, the political parties and Commonwealth governments, Mr McKinnon said: "This report - and the report of the Commonwealth Observer Group which was present for the General Election in April 2004 - calls for an independent Election Commission to further consolidate the independence, transparency, accountability and effectiveness of electoral administration in Sri Lanka. I support that call, which is in line with Sri Lanka's own laws and the international consensus."

Citing the report, the Secretary-General emphasised that the Election Commission needs to be backed up by real power to take on issues such as the need to regulate campaign finance and to tackle bias in the media. Mr McKinnon added that resources are also needed to enable the Commission to set up, among other things, a permanent, continuous and computerised registration system.

"I hope Sri Lanka will seize the great democratic opportunity presented by this Presidential Election by moving rapidly to set up an independent commission with the strength to make a difference. I would be pleased to provide experts to help."

Note to editors:

The Commonwealth Expert Team sent by the Secretary-General was led by the Hon Cassam Uteem, former President of Mauritius. The Team was in Sri Lanka from 9 to 22 November 2005.

Download the full report in PDF .