We are ready for LG polls - PAFFREL

• The PAFFREL expects to forward a formal request to the Election Commission in the next few days for permission to observe the forthcoming local government polls

BY Sandun A Jayasekera

The prominent election monitoring NGO, the ‘Peoples Action For Free and Fair Elections’ (PAFFREL) yesterday said the NGO expects to deploy around 10,000 local and foreign observers to make sure the upcoming Local Government polls are conducted in a free and fair atmosphere. 

The Executive Director of PAFFREL, Rohana Hettiarachchi told Daily Mirror that the NGO would obtain the services of a limited number of foreign observers through the good offices of the Asian Network for Free and Fair Elections (ANFFEL).

“The PAFFREL expects to forward a formal request to the Election Commission in the next few days for permission to observe the forthcoming local government polls,” Hettiarachchi said.
Monitoring with the main objective of conducting a violence and corruption free election is not an easy task.  The 2022 electoral register that has just been completed by the EC will be used for the upcoming local government polls to elect members to 340 LG bodies. The total number of registered voters eligible to vote are 16,692,398,Hettiarachchi stressed.
He said election to Elpitiya PS will come after one and half years as the Elpitiya Pradeshiya Sabha was established by a court order after the last LG polls were held in 2018.

Hettiarachchi expressed concerns as not only the number of voters but there is a sharp rise of registered political parties eligible to contest the LG polls signifying an intense propaganda campaign.

“But it is a prime duty and responsibility of all stakeholders to the election, namely the voters, candidates, political parties, independent groups, the Police, the armed forces and finally the government to ensure that a free and fair election that reflects the true aspirations of 22 million Sri Lankans is held,” Hettiarachchi emphasized.