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
First published on the website of CMEV on 27 July 2020. ANFREL member in Sri Lanka, the Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV), released their report on hate speech and use of divisive language during the 2020 Parliamentary General Election. CMEV looked at notable incidents of hate speech and use of divisive
First published on the website of CMEV on 23 July 2020. ANFREL member in Sri Lanka, the Centre for Monitoring Election Violence, has released its first evaluation of the ground situation during the election campaign for the 2020 Parliamentary Election. The ground evaluation took place during the first two weeks since the
Election Commission of Sri Lanka Chairperson Mahinda Deshapriya ensured the public that the polling station will be the safest public space and encouraged voters to exercise their right to vote on 5 August 2020. "Don't be afraid. This [polling station] is the safest public place. It is safer than markets or transportation
The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) is hosting a webinar on the preparations, challenges of organizing and participating in the upcoming 2020 Sri Lankan Parliamentary Election, this Saturday, 27 June 2020 at 10 a.m. (Colombo Time/11:30 a.m. Bangkok Time). The election was first set for 25 April 2020 but was canceled
The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) observed the final mock polling station set up by the Election Commission of Sri Lanka at the President College Rajagiriya in Colombo on 24 June 2020. EC held a series of mock polls to test health and safety measures amid the COVID-19 pandemic in the
First published on the website of CMEV on 17 June 2020. ANFREL member in Sri Lanka, the Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV), published their election observation report for the 2019 Sri Lankan Presidential Election. CMEV said the report provides an overview of the election, key election features and trends including election
The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) observed a mock polling station set up by the Election Commission (EC) of Sri Lanka at the Menerigama Primary School in Kalutara District on 14 June 2020. These are photos of what ANFREL observed about measures and precautions voters might expect on Election Day. The
ANFREL and six domestic election observation groups, including our members PAFFREL and CMEV, release today the “COVID-19 Code of Conduct for Election Observers” ahead of the 2020 Sri Lankan parliamentary elections. This document is a joint initiative from organizations both domestic and international intending to observe the parliamentary elections of Sri Lanka.
The Sri Lanka Parliamentary Election was scheduled to be held on 25 April 2020 but was postponed due to the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic. Here is a timeline of the events that transpired in the last few months regarding the election and COVID-19 crisis situation in the country:
First published on the Daily Mirror on 7 May 2020 By Tharindu Abeyrtahna Despite the fact that electoral democracy in Sri Lanka faced many challenges in pre and post-independence eras, the country has managed to conduct periodical elections in national level. Sri Lanka known as the oldest democracy in Asia and it
The Election Commission of Sri Lanka has set 20 June 2020 as the new date for the Parliamentary Election. It was originally scheduled for 25 April 2020 but was postponed due to the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic. ANFREL member in Sri Lanka, the Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) , published
On January 31, 2020, the Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) released its comprehensive assessment on the conduct of the 2019 Sri Lankan Presidential Elections. To access the report, please click the link below: The 2019 Sri Lankan Presidential Election: A Deepening Political Divide Executive Summary The Eighth Presidential Election was held
Described as "the most peaceful and free election held since 1982," the People's Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) in Sri Lanka said in the interim report of their observation of the 16 November 2019 Presidential Election. PAFFREL, however, said in the report published on 27 December 2019 that "this year's
International Election Observation Mission (IEOM) to the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka’s 2019 Presidential Election INTERIM REPORT Full Report: ANFREL 2019 Sri Lanka IEOM Interim Report Executive Summary (Sinhala): ANFREL 2019 Sri Lanka IEOM Executive Summary (S) Executive Summary (Tamil): ANFREL 2019 Sri Lanka IEOM Executive Summary (T) Press Release: ANFREL
The long term observers (LTOs) of ANFREL's International Election Observation Mission (IEOM) for the 2019 Sri Lanka Presidential Election participated in a one-day pre-deployment briefing on 31 October 2019 in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The LTOs were given an overview of the state of political affairs, electoral system, and the media and civil
Press Release Colombo, Sri Lanka October 23, 2019 The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) is pleased to announce the launch of its International Election Observation Mission to Sri Lanka’s 2019 Presidential Election. This engagement in Sri Lanka follows 10 previous election observation missions the organization has conducted in the country since
SRI LANKA’S ELECTION SYSTEM SHOWS CONTINUED IMPROVEMENT COLOMBO, 19 August – The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) today expresses its enthusiastic congratulations to the people of Sri Lanka for their role in the country’s 17 August Parliamentary Elections. ANFREL’s sixteen observers were drawn from its network of Asian Citizen Election Observation
COLOMBO, 07 August – On August 6th, the Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) deployed a team of election observers from countries across Asia and beyond to observe the August 17th Parliamentary Elections in Sri Lanka. This is ANFREL’s 7th Election Observation Mission to Sri Lanka. ANFREL’s mission in Sri Lanka is
PRESS STATEMENT SRI LANKA PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION 2015: “A TRIUMPH OF THE PEOPLE” The Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) congratulates the people of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka for their commitment to strengthen democracy by participating in the Presidential Election. ANFREL, an independent network of Asian Election Observers, also wishes
Press Release December 29, 2014 ASIAN ELECTION OBSERVERS DEPLOY ACROSS SRI LANKA FOR PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION 2015 Independent Election Observers from the Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) are deployed across Sri Lanka to observe the upcoming Presidential Election which is scheduled to be held on January 8, 2015. The observers from
As Sri Lanka plans to hold a snap presidential election on 8th January next year, speculation grows about President Mahinda Rajapaksa's quest for an unprecedented 3rd term after the defection of several key ministers as well as the announcement that the General Secretary of his party, Maithripala Sirisena, would be the "common
Election Day Statement by PAFFREL - September 21st, 2013 The polls for the provincial council elections in the Central, North Western and Northern provinces closed at 4 pm today and were generally peaceful. Polling took place in eight electoral districts in the three provinces based on the 2012 electoral register in which a
PAFFREL Election Day Report Elections to Three Provincial Councils on 08.09.2012 The elections to provincial councils in the Eastern, North Central and Sabaragamuwa took place on Saturday, September 8, 2012. People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) election observers observed the polls with close to 85 percent coverage with both mobile and
PAFFREL Pre-Election Incident Tracking, categorized by type and by province, for the Sri Lankan Provincial Council Elections held in 3 Provinces
PAFFREL : PEOPLE'S ACTION FOR FREE & FAIR ELECTIONS To the Secretaries of all Political Parties/ Nomination Committees Selection of Candidates for upcoming Provincial Council Election We hope your party has already started the selection process of candidates who will be contesting for the upcoming Provincial Council election...
View Full Report (PDF) The pre election period was an eventful one, with intense conflicts and physical violence between candidates of the same political parties and, a period which violated almost all election laws. The Elections Deparment, Police Deparment and district retaining officers were not exercising the powers they were given to