March 8 is International Women's Day. It is commemorated to celebrate the gains in advancing women's rights as well as shed light on the issues and challenges they encounter including participation and engaging in politics and governance. The Inter-Parliamentary Union, in their "Women in Parliament in 2022" report, found that while women's
The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) submitted to the UN Human Rights Committee election-related issues concerning human rights in Sri Lanka ahead of the country's ICCPR review on 8-9 March 2023. ANFREL said the postponement of the local government elections due to the COVID-19 pandemic raised concerns about its legitimacy given
CMEV expresses its grave concern about the first death reported yesterday in connection with the Local Government Elections 2023. This death follows from the undemocratic and repressive actions of the Sri Lanka Police to prevent a protest rally organised by the National People’s Power (NPP). Nimal Amarasiri, a NPP candidate for the
The Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) strongly condemns the blatant violation of the people’s democratic rights by the Election Commission, Treasury, Executive, Government Printer and senior officers of the Sri Lanka Police. Examining each of these public authorities and officials in turn, reveals how they have worked together to totally disrupt
The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) is deeply concerned by the numerous attempts to disrupt the long overdue local elections in Sri Lanka. The local elections were supposed to be held on 20 March 2022 and have been postponed for almost a year by the Minister of Provincial Council and Local
CMEV expresses its deep concern about the indefinite postponement of the postal voting for the Local Government Election 2023. It has been reported that this is due to the Government Printer’s refusal to submit the printed postal voting ballot papers on time to the Election Commission. CMEV learnt that the Government Printer
By Rifthi Ali For the main Opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya candidate and media spokesperson, Uma Chandra Prakash, election-time fake news, especially disinformation on social media, is a tightrope walk with victory on one side and defeat on the other. “I was defeated in the last parliamentary elections due to fake propaganda directed
ANFREL members People's Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) and Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) have put up special units where electoral stakeholders can report election-related violence and violations in Sri Lanka. PAFFREL set up a Special Election Complaints Unit where voters can submit complaints about violation of election laws
The Asia Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) and members People's Action for Free & Fair Elections (PAFFREL) and Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) filed a joint submission to the United Nations Human Rights Council for the fourth periodic report of Sri Lanka at the 42nd session of the Universal Periodic Review
Election monitors and activists express concern that digital harassment of female politicians will increase when the local council elections campaign gets into full swing in the coming weeks. According to the preliminary results of a survey conducted by the Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE), more than 70 percent of female
The Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) learnt that it is alleged that two members of the Election Commission, Mr. K.P.P. Pathirana and Mr. S.B. Divaratna were threatened with death if they did not resign from the Commission, last evening via WhatsApp. CMEV vehemently condemns such undemocratic and violent actions and calls
The Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) express its deep concern about the letter issued by Neil Bandara Hapuhinna, the Secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Council and Local Governments instructing District Secretaries to refrain from accepting deposits from candidates expecting to contest in upcoming Local Government Elections
The Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV), together with the Gender and Election Working Group (GEWG), conducted a press conference on 09 January 2023 to request all political parties to ensure better representation and safer participation for women in Local Government Elections. D.M. Dissanayake, Chief of Operation, CMEV stated that Sri Lanka
Centre for Monitoring Election Violence and Janavaboda Kendraya conducted a one-day discussion with youths, women and members of PWD organisations on the impact of the unavailability of Campaign Finance regulations for women, youth and PWDs participation in politics in Sri Lanka on November 19, 2022, at Janavaboda Kendraya. Empowering youth, women and
ANFREL member in Sri Lanka, the Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) opened calls for applications from interested members of the youth to participate in a certificate course on Electoral Studies and Democracy Empowerment. CMEV is offering the course free of charge to members of the youth sector aged 18-35 years old
The People's Action for Free & Fair Elections (PAFFREL) conducted a series of discussions with district coordinators and observers from Kurunegala, Puttalam, Kandy, Kegalle, Nuwara Eliya, Matale in Sri Lanka to review local and international guidelines to develop an election observation handbook. Mr. Jayantha Dehiaththage led the discussions.
The Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) conducted on 31 May 2022 a half-day program to discuss the way out of the current political, economic and social crisis in Sri Lanka through the constitution and electoral reforms at Hotel Janaki, Colombo. The program consisted of three panel discussions with distinguished experts in
His Excellency Gotabaya Rajapaksa,President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri LankaPresidential SecretariatColombo Dear Sir Let’s make the objective of the 21st Amendment, a reality While expressing our sincere appreciation of your agreeing to restore the Good Principles of Public Administration into the Constitution through the 21st Amendment to the Constitution, we
CMEV expresses its deep concern about the rapid deterioration of democracy and the rule of law in the country. Following the devastating violence in many parts of the country on May 09, 2022, CMEV has reports that the police investigations and arrests of perpetrators are taking place under political influence. It has
For Immediate ReleaseApril 26, 2022Seoul, South Korea The Asia Democracy Network (ADN) and its partner civil society organizations in Asia are deeply concerned regarding the economic crisis experienced by the people of Sri Lanka. We are deeply moved to see men and women struggling to find essential food including lifesaving medical items
PAFFREL is paying strict attention to the death of a youth and the significant number of people injured due to the police firing during the public unrest in Rambukkana yesterday (19th April). These protestors were not engaged in an anti-government struggle, but as participants in a campaign to ensure that they were
The Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (BERSIH) condemns the recent repressive and draconian actions of the Sri Lankan government in quelling the rights of their people to dissent and to protest. Thousands of Sri Lankan citizens have taken to the street calling for President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his government to resign
Every year, the International Day of Democracy is observed on September 15 to analyze the state of democracy across the world. This day plays an important role in highlighting the important role of parliaments, and to celebrate their capacity and mandate to deliver on justice, peace, development and human rights. Sri Lanka
As part of our commitment to the promotion of free and fair elections in Sri Lanka, the Asian Network for Free Elections submitted a set of recommendations to the Select Committee of Parliament on Electoral Reform. The call for proposals is a welcome development that would help strengthen and make more inclusive
First published on CMEV's website on 5 October 2020. ANFREL member in Sri Lanka, Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV), designed and published a booklet providing a glimpse into the nature of reporting carried out by mainstream newspapers during the election period in the country. CMEV said the media is a stakeholder
The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) released its assessment report of the 2020 Sri Lankan Parliamentary Elections providing insights on the conduct of elections amid the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 16,263,885 eligible voters were invited to cast their votes on 5 August 2020 for the parliamentary elections organized with certain
The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) wishes to congratulate the people of Sri Lanka for the successful conduct of the 2020 Sri Lankan Parliamentary Election. With an estimated voter turnout of over 70 percent, Election Day was generally peaceful and the efforts to ensure the public's health and safety amid the
Scene from the opening of polls in Sri Lanka on 5 August 2020. Sri Lanka held its Parliamentary Election amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The Election Commission assured voters that the polling stations will be safe with health guidelines imposed for this election. The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) deployed six assessment
On August 5, over 16 million Sri Lankan voters are invited to cast their ballots in South Asia’s first major elections since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Initially scheduled for April 25, the polls had to be postponed twice. On the eve of this exercise in democracy, the Asian Network for
Election volunteers of the Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) participated in a one-day online pre-deployment briefing on 31 July 2020. They will be gathering information for ANFREL's assessment of the 2020 Sri Lankan Parliamentary Election. Six election volunteers were given an orientation on the political and electoral system of Sri Lanka
