PRESIDENT GUARANTEES FREE AND FAIR ELECTION

One of the significant facets of election campaing was the peacefull atmosphere that pervaded the country

President Maithripala Sirisena, who met European and Commonwealth election observers vowed he would present a new constitution with one of the main proposals being the abolition of the remaining powers of the executive presidency.

The absolute executive powers vested in the presidency had brought Sri Lanka to the brink of disaster and as such as the January 8 election I promised to abolish them

The European and Commonwealth election observers are in the country on an invitation by the Elections Commission to observe the August 17 election process.

The President said the absolute executive powers vested in the presidency had brought Sri Lanka to the brink of disaster and he contested the presidential election on January 8 promising he would abolish these powers.

He assured the election observers that he would ensure that today’s election would be free and fair.

The President said he would create an environment where the Elections Commissioner and the law enforcement officers headed by the Inspector General of Police would be able to carry out their duties without any interference.

Recalling that the presidential election held in January, he said the parliamentary elections would be different from the presidential election because at the January election all state power and resources were used against him and there was a huge wave of violence unleashed against him.

“However, our people were intelligent enough to carry out their responsibilities and secured my victory at the election,” the President said and added that he and the government served the people to the best of our ability during the past six months.

He also recalled that there were many issues with regard to democracy, freedom of expression and human rights of the people. The government was committed to solving the problems gradually and to build a peaceful democratic nation.

Meanwhile, Commonwealth Secretary General Kamalesh Sharma in a statement expressed hopes that Sri Lanka would continue its tradition of conducting credible voting and vote-counting and that the post-election period would be marked by adherence to the country’s election laws.

“I am delighted that the Commonwealth, which has a strong history of supporting Sri Lanka during its elections, has been invited to observe the parliamentary elections today.” Mr. Sharma said.