The National Election Commission (NEC) is preparing to invite four foreign bodies to monitor the upcoming Presidential election slated to take place later this year.
A spokesman for the NEC Rizan Manzil said they will be inviting the Commonwealth, Forum of Election Management Bodies of South Asia (FEMBoSA) and Association of Asian Election Authorities (AAEA) to send in observation missions to cover the upcoming election.
The European Union has also conveyed to the NEC that it is willing to deploy a contingent of election monitors and cover pre-poll, the election day and the post elections to help the NEC ensure a free and fair election.
“The NEC is expected to extend an invitation to the European Union for an observation mission once the date for the Presidential election is confirmed.” The date of the election is still a bit hazy, we will be going ahead with the invitations as soon as the dates are confirmed,” the spokesman said.
The NEC earlier stated the Presidential Elections Act dictated the polls to be held between November 16 to December 7. There is a likelihood that it might be fixed on Saturday, December 7.
This year’s election is anticipated to be a closely-fought battle for power between main contenders - the candidates from the coalitions led by SLPP and the ruling United National Front. With the JVP poised to challenge and rob a decisive chunk of the national vote, depriving the leading candidates an easy majority, the election is keenly watched by the people as well as the international community.
A leading local polls observer, PAFFREL said they will be deploying a 10,000 strong polls observer team including 200 long term observers and another 1,000 to cover postal voting.
It will have 8,000 static observers within the polling stations and 1,000 more on mobile duty. A team of 35 foreign monitors representing the Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) has also been invited by the local monitors.
The NEC Spokesman Rizan said only PAFFREL and CMEV among local groups will be allowed observers inside polling stations on the election day.