Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) initiated a voter education programme called ‘Provincial Council Elections Voter Education and Outreach Programme’ with the support of USAID-DAI (SDGAP). The main focus is to invoke awareness for women candidates who are willing to contest in the next provincial councils elections to be held island-wide. CMEV is planning to conduct a series of district-level awareness workshops inviting selected prospective candidates across the country.

The eleventh in this series of workshops was conducted in Mannar District at the conference hall of Regional English Support Center in Mannar  on 19^th October 2018. Over 50 women activists including women members of Local government, active supporters of political parties and women CSO leaders attended the event

. Mr. D.C.Aravindaraj, Assistant Commissioner and S.A.D. Praveena represented the Election Commission of Sri Lanka while Mr.Manjula Gajanayake facilitated the event.

Centre for Monitoring Elections Violence (CMEV) is the one of leading election observation missions in the country which facilitated Inclusive Election process prioritizing voting rights of PwDs. All last three elections that were held since 2015, PwDs have been deployed  as election observers by CMEV in addition to its efforts of producing of accessible documents for PwDs.

As a part of continuous engagements towards promoting inclusive elections, CMEV initiated a programme to create a pool of election observers comprising with PwDs. Its second programme was held at the Solaivanam Hotel in Kilinochchi  on 18^th  October 2018 with the participation of over 30  PwDs. Mr. R.C. Amal Raj, Assistant Commissioner of Elections, Kilinochchi District attended representing Election Commission of Sri Lanka and delivered the key note speech in this event. Mr. V. Subramaniam, Former President of NP CODA and ORHAN , Manjula Gajanayake, National Coordinator of CMEV was the facilitator of the event while Mr. Anura Hadagama (Attorney-at-Law) and Hashanie Chiranganie L.L.B , Nirmala Bernard, Attorney – At- Law, were the resource persons for the said programme.

Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) initiated a voter education programme called ‘Provincial Council Elections Voter Education and Outreach Programme’ with the support of USAID-DAI (SDGAP). The main focus is to invoke awareness for women candidates who are willing to contest in the next provincial councils elections to be held island-wide. CMEV is planning to conduct a series of district-level awareness workshops inviting selected prospective candidates across the country.

The tenth in this series of workshops was conducted in Mullaitivu District at Daffodil Hotel reception hall in Mullaitivu on 13^th October 2018. Over 50 women activists including women members of Local government, active supporters of political parties and women CSO leaders attended in this one day awareness training.

Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) initiated a voter education programme called ‘Provincial Council Elections Voter Education and Outreach Programme’ with the support of USAID-DAI (SDGAP). The main focus is to invoke awareness for women candidates who are willing to contest in the next provincial councils elections to be held island-wide. CMEV is planning to conduct a series of district-level awareness workshops inviting selected prospective candidates across the country.

The ninth in this series of workshops was conducted in Vavuniya District at Royal Garden Hotel in Vavunia   on 10^th October 2018. Over 60 women activists including women members of Local government, attended in this one-day awareness training. Prof. Rathnajeewan Hoole, Member of Election Commission and Mr. Saman Sri Rathnayake,  Additional Commissioner of Elections (Local Government), Election Commission of Sri Lanka, Aravind Raj, Assistant Election Commissioner, Udeni Thewarapperuma, Attorney At Law  and Manjula Gajanayake, National Coordinator of CMEV were  delivered  speeches  in this event.  CMEV organised this event in partnership with both Vavuniya and Mannar District Election Officers.

CMEV is one of leading election observation missions in the country which HAS facilitated an Inclusive Election process, prioritizing voting rights of Persons with Disabilities (PwDs). The last three elections that were held since 2015 have seen PwDs being deployed  as election observers by CMEV in addition to its efforts of producing of accessible documents for PwDs.

As a part of continuous engagements towards promoting inclusive elections, CMEV initiated a programme to create a pool of election observers comprising with PwDs. Its first programme was held at the meeting hall of FRDSRO disability organization, Kandy on 27^th September 2018 with the participation of over 60 PwDs. Mr. Namal Thalangama, Deputy Commissioner of Elections, Kandy District attended representing Election Commission of Sri Lanka and delivered the key note speech in this event. Manjula Gajanayake, National Coordinator of CMEV was the facilitator of the event while Mr. Anura Hadagama (Attorney-at-Law) and Hashanie Chiranganie (L.L.B) were the resource persons for programme.

Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) initiated a voter education programme called ‘Provincial Council Elections Voter Education and Outreach Programme’ with the support of USAID-DAI (SDGAP). The main focus is to invoke awareness for women candidates who are willing to contest in the next provincial councils elections to be held island-wide. CMEV is planning to conduct a series of district-level awareness workshops inviting selected prospective candidates across the country.

The eighth in this series of workshops was conducted in  Trincomalee District  at Lake Front Hotels reception hall in Kanthale   on 30th September 2018. Over 65 women activists including women members of Local government, active supporters of political parties and women CSO leaders attended in this one day awareness training. Mr. M.M. Mohamed, Additional Commissioner of Elections (Admin and Legal), Election Commission of Sri Lanka. was delivered the key note speech in this event.  CMEV organised this event in partnership with Election Commission of Sri Lanka, National Collaboration Development Foundation (NCDF) and Eastern Women Organisation.

Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) initiated a voter education programme called ‘Provincial Council Elections Voter Education and Outreach Programme’ with the support of USAID-DAI (SDGAP). The main focus is to invoke awareness for women candidates who are willing to contest in the next provincial councils elections to be held island-wide. CMEV is planning to conduct a series of district-level awareness workshops inviting selected prospective candidates across the country.

The sixth   in this series of workshops was conducted in  Polonnaruwa  District at New Ramaada Hotels Reception Hall  on 13th September 2018. Over 50 women activists including women members of Local government, active supporters of political parties and women CSO leaders attended in this one day awareness training. Mr. Leelanath Wickramaarchchi, Assistant Commissioner of Elections, Polonnaruwa District was attended representing Election Commission of Sri Lanka. CMEV organised this event in partnership with ”Sunila Women & Children Development Foundation, Polonnaruwa.

Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) initiated a voter education programme called ‘Provincial Council Elections Voter Education and Outreach Programme’ with the support of USAID-DAI (SDGAP). The main focus is to invoke awareness for women candidates who are willing to contest in the next provincial councils elections to be held island-wide. CMEV is planning to conduct a series of district-level awareness workshops inviting selected prospective candidates across the country.

The Fifth   in this series of workshops was conducted in  Rathnapura  District at Samudiya Hotels Reception Hall  on 14th September 2018. Over 50 women activists including women members of Local government, active supporters of political parties and women CSO leaders attended in this one day awareness training. CMEV organised this event in partnership with Rathnapura District ”Savibala Purawesi Sanvidhanaya”.

Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) initiated a voter education programme called ‘Provincial Council Elections Voter Education and Outreach Programme’ with the support of USAID-DAI (SDGAP). The main focus is to invoke awareness for women candidates who are willing to contest in the next provincial councils elections to be held island-wide. CMEV is planning to conduct a series of district-level awareness workshops inviting selected prospective candidates across the country.

The Fourth in this series of workshops was conducted in Batticaloa District at Green Garden Hotel  on 08th September 2018. Over 55 women activists including women members of Local government, active supporters of political parties and women CSO leaders attended in this one day awareness training. R. Sasilan, Assistant Commissioner of Elections in Batticaloa district was attended as the guest speaker of this event. CMEV organised this event in partnership with Batticaloa District Women Federation.

Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) initiated a voter education programme called ‘Provincial Council Elections Voter Education and Outreach Programme’ with the support of USAID-DAI (SDGAP). The main focus is to invoke awareness for women candidates who are willing to contest in the next provincial councils elections to be held island-wide. CMEV is planning to conduct a series of district-level awareness workshops inviting selected prospective candidates across the country.

The third  in this series of workshops was conducted at Puttalam District Secretariat’s Main Auditorium on 06th September 2018. Over 60 women activists including women members of Local government, active supporters of political parties and women CSO leaders attended in this one day awareness training. CMEV organised this event in partnership with Child Vision Sri Lanka, Puttalam.

Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) initiated a voter education programme called ‘Provincial Council Elections Voter Education and Outreach Programme’ with the support of USAID-DAI (SDGAP). The main focus is to invoke awareness for women candidates who are willing to contest in the next provincial councils elections to be held island-wide. CMEV is planning to conduct a series of district-level awareness workshops inviting selected prospective candidates across the country.

The second in this series of workshops was conducted on 04th September 2018 in the Anuradhapura District. Mr. Asanka Rathnayake, Divisional Secretary, Nochchiyagama Divisional Secretariat (Former Assistant Election Commissioner of Anuradhapura District) delivered the keynote speech in this event. Over 50 women activists including women members of Local government, active supporters of political parties and women CSO leaders attended in this one day awareness training. CMEV organised this event in partnership with Anuradhapura District Citizen Committee.

A debate has commenced regarding an appropriate system that could be adopted at the next round of provincial councils elections. There are 3 provincial councils are already dissolved (Eastern, North Central and Sabaragamuwa) and another 3 councils are yet to be dissolved since their terms have been completed before the end of December in this year.  The reason for the initiation of such a debate is that many diverse collectives, including political parties, have raised their concerns on the challenges they observed during the last Local Government Elections, which were held on the 10th February 2018.

Amidst these deliberations, as an election observation mission, CMEV initiated a voter education programme called ‘Provincial Council Elections Voter Education and Outreach Programme’ with the support of USAID-DAI (SDGAP). The main focus is to invoke awareness for women candidates who are willing to contest in the next provincial councils elections island-wide. CMEV is planning to conduct a series of district-level awareness workshops inviting selected prospective candidates.

The first in this series of workshops was conducted on 17th June in the Jaffna district. Many women activists attended this event.  Mr. Dharmasiri Nanayakkara, Former Local Government Deputy Commissioner and Manjula Gajanayake, National Coordinator of CMEV facilitated the workshop. Mr. T. Akilan, Assistant Commissioner of Elections, (Jaffna District) delivered the key note speech in this event.

A critical social dialogue on the Local Government Elections system has emerged after the release of the results of the February 10th polls, held under the Mixed Member Proportional Representation. This dialogue has become more essential as the fundamental basis of the same electoral system is scheduled to be used for the forth coming Provincial Councils Election as well.

Several stakeholders have entered in to this dialogue. Certain political parties were invited by both Centre for Monitoring Election Violence and People’s Action for Free & Fair Elections (PAFFREL) to take part in this dialogue. A far-reaching discussion on new electoral system was held on 25 April 2018 in Colombo.

One of the main conclusions reached at this meeting was to appoint a committee of academics and professionals to study and review the new electoral system. Following this decision, a Civil Society Review Committee consisting of 8 members whose names are indicated below, has been set up for the above mentioned purpose.

• Mr. S. Medaweva, President, Election Professionals Association and a retired Civil Servant
• Mr. P. Siriwardena, Former Additional Commissioner, Department of Elections
• Prof. Sudantha Liyanage, Dean, Faculty of Applied Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura
• Dr. Sujatha Gamage, Senior Researcher
• Mr. Rohana Hettiarachchi, Executive Director of PAFFREL
• Mrs. Kumudini  Samuel, Social Activist
• Mr. Luwie Ganeshathasan, Attorney At Law, Researcher
• Mr. Manjula Gajanayake, National Coordinator of CMEV

The main task of the above committee would be to consult relevant parties and obtain their views on the Mixed Member Proportional Representation System, through which the forthcoming Provincial Council Election is scheduled to be conducted. They will compile a comprehensive report including the recommendations of the committee. In compiling the above report, the committee expects to also review the technical issues encountered at the recently concluded local government election. The entire process is coordinated with the assistance of the Election Commission of Sri Lanka and the Ministry of Provincial Councils and Local Government, while PAFFREL and CMEV facilitate.

The committee expects to release its report with recommendations before 15 July 2018.  As part of proposed consultation series, both organisations were able to hold two consultations on the findings of the committee for provincial council ministers and members, political party officials and activists, key representatives of Civil Society Organisations including women organisations.

Key speakers at this event were Prof. Sudantha Liyanage, Dean, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Sri Jayawardenepura University, Dr. Sujatha Gamage, Senior Reseracher, Learn Asia, Kumuduni Samuael, Women Activist and  Luwie Ganeshathasan, Attorney At Law and a Researcher at the Centre for Policy Alternatives. These persons represented the Civil Society committee and Mr. Medewewa, Senior Civil Servant and the Chairman of Election Professionals Association also attended in this event.

There were two consultations at Waters Edge Hotel on 18^th June 2018 and Rohana Hettiarachchi, Executive Director of PAFFREL and Manjula Gajanayake, National Coordinator of CMEV were the facilitators of these two sessions. The next consultation is scheduled to be held in the first week of July for groups from the North and Eastern provinces. In addition, individual and group consultations of political party leaders and secretaries will take place in Colombo.  The main outcome of these discussion has been the appointment of a committee to consult key stakeholders on the existing provincial council’s election system within a time frame of one and half month. USAID – DAI (SDGAP)  provided the financial support for this event.