12 member International observer group to monitor SL election

Colombo (News 1st): An international observer group that is set to monitor the upcoming presidential election, convened a media briefing today (November 13). Upon the invitation of the National Election Commission of Sri Lanka, an international observer group consisting of 12 members from Indonesia, India, South Africa, and the Maldives arrived in the island yesterday (November 12). Speaking at the briefing Executive Director of the Foundation for Human Rights of South Africa Hanif Mohammed Vally said;

"This is the very experienced international grouping that forms part of the international observer group, that was invited by the election commission of Sri Lanka. We met with the election commissioner today, we also met with the police today. We are here to observe that the election laws are impartially observed, how the complaints mechanism works and to see the election commission of Sri Lanka maintains international standards for democratic elections. And if the election reflects the will of the people. And thereafter we will present our recommendations in a report to the election commission of Sri Lanka. We will present the report before the 20th. When we leave the country. Exactly when they will release it I am not too sure. But it's not going to be a secret. They have made it clear that they are very keen that it will be shared with the media."

Meanwhile, the European Union Election Observation Mission in Sri Lanka 2019 deployed from Colombo this morning.