๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฌ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ฎ๐ฅ โ๐๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ข๐๐๐ง๐ญ๐ข๐๐ฅ ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐๐๐โ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ข๐ ๐ก ๐๐จ๐ญ๐๐ซ ๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐ง๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ
Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL), as an election observation group that observed the freshly concluded โPresidential Election 2024โ with a special focus on the misuse of public resources, commends the hard work of the Election Commission of Sri Lanka (ECSL), Sri Lanka Police and all other affiliated service providers for conducting a very peaceful election.
This year’s Presidential Election was significant on several counts. It was the first election after the peopleโs uprising (Aragalaya), which stemmed from the unprecedented economic crisis in 2022. It is the first election where the campaign finances of candidates are scrutinized under the Regulation of Election Expenditure Act of 2023. It was also the first time, that the counting of second and third preferences was required in a Presidential Election.
TISL deployed 202 Election Observers to observe the misuse of public resources across all 25 districts, along with 47 observers to monitor campaign expenses. In the lead-up to the election, TISL received a total of 1,126 complaints, and actions were taken on approximately 650 of them. The highest number of complaints (451) were related to the misuse of public premises, such as public grounds, government offices, buildings, and schools.
On the election-day, 244 observers, including TISL staff, participated in election observation. While no major election-related violent incidents or election law violations were reported, 112 incidents of election law violations were reported by TISL’s Election Observers; most of these incidents were related to minor illegal campaign activities. These unlawful activities such as displaying of posters and cutouts and misuse of public property were reported to the Police and Officials in charge of the polling stations and swift actions were taken by the authorities to rectify them.
The high voter turnout (estimated between 75% and 80% by the Election Commission) is commendable and demonstrates votersโ enthusiasm and confidence in Sri Lankaโs democratic process.
TISL would like to express gratitude to every citizen who fulfilled their utmost democratic duty of voting and remained peaceful during the election period. As an Election Observation Organization, TISL states that the election was conducted in a calm and non-violent manner on the election day.
