Commonwealth (Commonwealth)_The Commonwealth has appointed a team of observers for the upcoming Presidential Election in Sri Lanka scheduled for September 21, 2024. The observation group, known as the Commonwealth Observer Group (COG), is chaired by His Excellency Danny Faure, the former President of Seychelles, and comprises 15 members from various Commonwealth nations.
The Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, announced the deployment of the COG following an invitation from Sri Lanka‘s Election Commission and a pre-election assessment. This initiative aligns with the Commonwealth’s commitment to supporting democratic processes in its member states, guided by the principles enshrined in the Commonwealth Charter.
The Secretary-General highlighted the importance of the observer group’s mission, which will involve a thorough evaluation of the electoral process. This includes assessing the pre-election environment, voting procedures, and the counting and tabulation processes. Additionally, the COG will review the post-election environment after the announcement of the results. Their findings will be documented in an interim report, followed by a comprehensive final report offering recommendations to enhance future elections in Sri Lanka.
The COG is tasked with determining whether the election adheres to Sri Lanka’s electoral laws and meets the standards set by regional, Commonwealth, and international benchmarks. The observers will follow the International Declaration of Principles for Election Observation, ensuring their work remains professional and credible. This declaration was co-signed by the Commonwealth in 2005 at the United Nations.
Expressing gratitude for their commitment, the Secretary-General thanked the chairperson and the esteemed members of the observer group, drawn from a diverse pool of experts across the Commonwealth. The observers’ backgrounds range from legal, electoral, and governance fields, contributing a broad spectrum of expertise to the mission.
The COG will be present in Sri Lanka from September 15 to 27, 2024. They will be supported by a seven-member team from the Commonwealth Secretariat, led by Lindiwe Maleleka, a Political Adviser in the Electoral Support Section of the Governance and Peace Directorate.
The members of the COG, listed in alphabetical order by their country of origin, include notable figures such as Mr. Ian Hughes from Antigua and Barbuda, Hon Allyson Maynard Gibson from The Bahamas, and Dr. Tres-Ann Kremer from Jamaica. Other members come from diverse regions including Fiji, India, Kenya, Maldives, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saint Lucia, and South Africa, reflecting the Commonwealth’s global representation.
At the conclusion of their mission, the Commonwealth Observer Group will submit their detailed observations and recommendations to the Commonwealth Secretary-General. This final report will later be made publicly available and shared with the Government of Sri Lanka, the Election Commission, political parties, and governments of the Commonwealth member states, thus contributing to the transparency and accountability of the electoral process.
