Commonwealth election monitors arrive

The preliminary team of Commonwealth election monitors are now in the country to observe the pre-election phase, a spokesperson for the Election Secretariat said.

In addition to the Commonwealth team a small group of Asian election monitors are also in the country since December to observe the run-up to the polls.

The Forum of Election Management Bodies of South Asia (FEMBoSA) and Association of Asian Election Authorities (AAEA) will send a 35-member team each on the invitation of the Elections Commissioner, Mahinda Deshapriya to observe the 2015 presidential election.

An informed source said currently India is the chair of the FEMBoSA, hence it will be selecting the election team for the Sri Lankan mission.

The Commonwealth Secretariat is set to dispatch a 15- member team for the election.

MF