• Asian Network for Free Elections likely to deploy observers
• EC says international observers unnecessary but if needed they must be approved by EC
• PAFFREL to file intervenient petition opposing SC petition seeking election suspension

With nominations being called by the Election Commission (EC) on Wednesday (4)for the 2023 Local Government (LG) poll, polls monitor, the People’s Action for

Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) yesterday (5) stated that they have already

discussed with the Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL), of which PAFFREL is

a part, to bring down international observers to monitor the pre-poll, poll day, and

post-poll periods and situations.

Speaking to The Morning, PAFFREL Executive Director Rohana Hettiarachchi

yesterday said that his organisation is seeking to involve some international

observers at the upcoming poll, in addition to local observers. “We will deploy approximately 8,000-10,000 observers. However, the exact

number would change based on the resources and other circumstances. We will

deploy our long-term observers hopefully by the middle of this month, because

nominations would commence on 18 January,” he added.

Earlier, Commissioner General of Elections Saman Sri Ratnayake, when queried by

The Morning as to whether there will be any international elections monitors,

said: “It is yet to be decided. There were no requests made by the EC either. If

there is any request, the EC can consider that. We think that it is not necessary but

if any international organisation wants to observe, they have to get approval from

the EC.”

PAFFREL will also intervene in the writ application filed at the Supreme Court (SC)

seeking an order to the EC to suspend the conducting of the LG Poll.

“Even though we are now not going to Court asking to hold the election, we will

intervene in this petition that is requesting to suspend it. This person is asking to

postpone the election due to the cost factor. Therefore, we will intervene and

stand for democracy and the citizens. This cost factor is not a reasonable claim.

We know that the economic crisis exists. When will this be over? Afterwards, what

will happen for the next Parliamentary Election? Are they going to stop the

Parliamentary and Presidential Elections, which are scheduled in the next two

years? The economic crisis will not settle within the next two years,” Hettiarachchi

said.

The petitioner in the said case had highlighted the cost factor and moves to

reduce the number of members and councilors in LG Authorities. Hettiarachchi

pointed out that while PAFFREL agrees that the members and councilors should be

reduced, it is currently not the time for that.

“The Government needs to think about that fact in advance. They can even

proceed with delimitation and other things but it can apply for the next election.

We are not against this good proposal on reducing the number of members and

councilors of LG bodies, bringing in the youth quota and the Campaign Finance Bill. However, we cannot allow the Government to use this good proposal as a

delaying strategy,” he added.

Meanwhile, Attorney Sunil Watagala of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna told the

media this week that the lawyers of his party would also appear to intervene in

the said petition in court.

On Tuesday (3), a writ petition was filed before the SC seeking an order to the EC

to suspend the conducting of the LG poll. The petition has been filed by Army

Colonel (Retd.) W.M.R. Wijesundara. The petitioner noted in his application that

he had inquired from the Election Commission regarding the expenditure to be

incurred on the LG election, to which the EC had informed him that the estimated

expenditure for the election amounts to Rs. 10 billion.

The EC on Wednesday published a notice calling for nominations for the LG Poll

2023, in 340 LG Authorities excluding the Elpitiya Pradeshiya Sabha in the Galle

District.