For Immediate Release
Colombo, Sri Lanka
14 November 2024

The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) commends the people of Sri Lanka for their commitment to a largely peaceful and orderly conduct of the Parliamentary Elections held on 14 November 2024. These elections stand as a proud milestone for Sri Lankans, concluding without any major electoral violations or incidents of violence.

On election day, ANFREL observers visited 484 polling stations across Sri Lanka, including 265 in rural areas and 219 in urban locations, covering 21 electoral districts. ANFREL observers monitored the entire process, including the opening of polling stations, voting procedures throughout the day, and the closing procedures. While about 75% of the polling stations were set up on school premises, a notable 14% of the stations observed by ANFREL were located at religious sites, predominantly Buddhist temples.

Several noteworthy practices were observed, including polling staff proactively supporting voters who were unable to present identification cards by advising them of alternative documentation procedures. Similarly, clear directional and instructional signages were present in most polling stations, with information on political party logos and the number of candidates per party, making the voting process more accessible. Furthermore, tactile ballots and sign language interpretation materials were available for use as needed, supporting inclusivity and accessibility for persons with disability. While ANFREL observed a notable number of female poll workers, only 3% of Senior Presiding Officers (SPOs) were female, underscoring a significant gender gap in leadership positions.

In the opening of the polls, all polling stations visited by observers had the essential materials for the elections, and the process for the opening and sealing of the ballot boxes was followed. Most polling stations had guidelines explaining the voting process and the list of candidates and party symbols. However, a noticeable difference in the number of voters across polling stations were observed. Overall, the Parliamentary elections project a lower voter turnout as compared to the 75.89% turnout in 2020 and the 79.46% turnout in the recently concluded Presidential election. However, ANFREL is still awaiting the announcement of the final turnout from the Election Commission of Sri Lanka (ECSL).

Consistent with ANFREL’s observations in the past four election observations, the following issues remain a concern in this election: (1) accessibility challenges at polling stations, (2) unwarranted entry of armed police personnel, and (3) risk of violating ballot secrecy.

Inaccessible Polling Stations
Approximately three out of four polling stations observed by ANFREL do not have ramps, and four out of five were inaccessible to wheelchair users. Nearly half of the polling stations had obstacles or hazards affecting the mobility of persons with disabilities, including stairs at entrances and exits, floor gaps, and elevated sections within the premises. This issue, particularly affecting accessibility for persons with disabilities and the elderly, requires prompt action to ensure improvements are in place by the next elections. While infrastructure poses a challenge, reasonable short term accommodations could include setting up polling stations closer to entrances or selecting larger locations, given that most polling stations are situated on school premises.

Presence of Armed Police Near Polling Stations
At least one to two armed police officers were present in all the polling stations observed by ANFREL, with the armed police stationed at the entrance in most polling stations. However there were polling stations with armed police officers stationed inside. This resulted in a situation where police officers were in close proximity to voters. Even in the polling stations which placed police officers at the entrance of the polling station, armed police officers were seen to enter the polling station. While the presence of armed police officers is warranted to secure the voting process, the presence of armed personnel inside the polling place can potentially intimidate voters. ANFREL sees ambiguity as to the exact role of armed police officers and when they are supposed to and/or are allowed to enter the polling station.

Ballot Secrecy Issues
The legal framework of Sri Lanka provides a very specific layout for the polling station. The Senior Presiding Officer and in more vote-dense polling stations, the Junior Presiding Officer are required to be stationed behind the Ballot Paper Marking Compartment. ANFREL observed that these arrangements compromised the secrecy of the ballot, undermining the privacy of the voting process, especially in smaller polling stations.

Overall, the electoral process was calm and peaceful, with only minor incidents reported. Most electoral violations involved party workers and candidates discarding campaign materials in and around polling station premises in a last-minute attempt to influence undecided voters.

While no electoral system is flawless, collaboration among key stakeholders can play a vital role in seeking longer term sustainable reforms to electoral processes seeking longer term reforms, thereby strengthening the country’s electoral system, and building public confidence and trust in the electoral process and acceptance of the election results. All stakeholders, particularly the ECSL, are encouraged to sustain the active engagement, positive steps, and vigilance that ANFREL observed.

As Sri Lanka moves forward, ANFREL urges all political parties and electoral stakeholders to stay dedicated to consolidating and institutionalizing the progress achieved in both the Presidential and Parliamentary elections.

About the Mission:
As part of ANFREL’s International Election Observation Mission to the Sri Lanka Parliamentary Elections, ANFREL is deploying a total of 30 observers, including the Mission Management Team, 2 Electoral Analysts, 13 Long Term Observers (LTOs), and 10 Short Term Observers (STOs). These observers are strategically positioned across Sri Lanka’s 22 electoral districts to ensure thorough coverage and evaluation of the entire election process.

Download the full statement here: “2024 Sri Lanka Parliamentary Elections: Peaceful and Orderly Process Observed amid projected Low Voter Turnout, Prevailing Accessibility Challenges, and Ballot Secrecy Concerns“