In addition to the contributions made by the Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) in critical engagement with the election observation processes in Sri Lanka, it has simultaneously been contributing to the electoral reform process too in the country. As part of these overall functions; CMEV has initiated a series of discussions with the intention of enhancing an Island wide public discourse on “limitations on campaign finance and the disclosure of assets and liabilities”.

Imposing limitations on campaign finance and the disclosure of asserts are not merely isolated elements of the overall electoral process. They are obviously factors that play a pivotal and decisive role of any election. Additionally, these factors assist safeguarding the overall integrity of the electoral process while creating an equal playing field for all election candidates. While most of the countries across the globe have been effectively working in and around identifying and adopting appropriate approaches connected to restricting campaign finance; it is a welcoming situation in Sri Lanka having initiated a public discourse on the same matter during the recent past.

Therefore, contributing to the said initiative, Centre for Monitoring Violence (CMEV) organized a public discussion on the ‘campaign expenditure and on declarations of assets and liabilities’ at the Royal Nest Hotel, Polonnaruwa on 29^th April 2017. The discussion was organized by CMEV in partnership with Transparency International Sri Lanka  and a number of civil society organizations along with candidates willing to contest upcoming Local Government election.

Mr. N.A. Dharmasiri, Deputy Commissioner of Local Government (retired) , Manjula  Gajanayake, National Coordinator of CMEV and Hashanie Chitranganie, Researcher of CMEV were speakers at this event.

CMEV has taken a new initiative to identify and facilitate the voting rights of migrant workers in Sri Lanka that amounts to over two million persons. As one of the major contributing source to the national income through foreign revenue, the need to facilitate their inalienable right to participate in the political decision-making process has been recognized and addressed by a comprehensive document compiled with this regard. It encompasses the pertinent legal background and numerous methods utilized in other countries to avail out-of-country voters with facilities to exercise their right to vote.

Download the guide in English, Sinhala and Tamil.

The Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV), as the very first election observing organization in Sri Lanka that spearheaded numerous initiatives beneficial to the realization of voting rights of the persons with disabilities with the auspices of the Election Commission of Sri Lanka, has been able to reach out to over 250 representatives of  leading Disabled Persons’ Organizations from over 20 districts around the country and obtain their input regarding the issues faced by them concerning the electoral process.

The focal point on persons with disabilities and older persons, that has been appointed by the Election Commission of Sri Lanka, also took part in these consultative discussions where the issues of the said DPOs were presented and suitable recommendations deliberated with the relevant stakeholders related to the electoral process.

Download the report in English here and Sinhala here.

CMEV has been engaging in various initiatives of empowering disability organizations to achieve the rights related to voting and political representation of persons with disabilities in Sri Lanka, with special emphasis to voting rights of Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) and to create an inclusive discourse with that regard, ensuring that the popular disability related slogan ‘’’Nothing about us without us’’ is given its true meaning. To this effect, CMEV has been conducting a series of programs aimed at the realization of political / voting rights of PwDs, in parallel with both National level Elections held in 2015 as well.
As a part of the newest chapter of the said initiatives, the fifth consultative discussion was held on the 30th January 2017 in partnership with the Election Commission of Sri Lanka and the FRIDSRO Sri Lanka. Key representatives of DPOs in Sabaragamuwa Province took part in this occasion.

The Additional Commissioner of the Election Commission of Sri Lanka Mr. Saman Ratnayake, who has been appointed as the focal point to identify and resolve disability-related issues in the electoral process, also   attended this event as the main resource person, representing the Election Commission.  Mr.G.D.N.De Silva, Assistant Commissioner of Election Commission of Sri Lanka also participated in this event.  Hashanie Chithranganie and Janitha Rukmal, two Researchers of CMEV also addressed the gathering.  National Co-ordinator of CMEV Manjula Gajanayake was the facilitator of the event.

CMEV has been engaging in various initiatives of empowering disability organizations to achieve the rights related to voting and political representation of persons with disabilities in Sri Lanka, with special emphasis to voting rights of Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) and to create an inclusive discourse with that regard, ensuring that the popular disability related slogan ‘’’Nothing about us without us’’ is given its true meaning. To this effect, CMEV has been conducting a series of programs aimed at the realization of political / voting rights of PwDs, in parallel with both National level Elections held in 2015 as well.

As a part of the newest chapter of the said initiatives, the fourth consultative discussion was held on the 02^nd February   2017 in partnership with the Election Commission of Sri Lanka and the Navajeewana, Tangalle.

Key representatives of DPOs in Southern Province took part in this occasion. The Additional Commissioner of the Election Commission of Sri Lanka Mr. Saman Ratnayake, who has been appointed as the focal point to identify and resolve disability-related issues in the electoral process, also   attended this event as the main resource person, representing the Election Commission.  Mr. R.S. Wedage,  Assistant Commissioner of Election Commission, Hambanthota District also participated in this event.  Hashanie Chithranganie, Researcher of CMEV and Janitha Rukmal , Researcher of CMEV also addressed the gathering.  National Coordinator of CMEV Manjula Gajanayake was the facilitator of the event.

CMEV has been engaging in various initiatives of empowering disability organizations to achieve their political rights, with special emphasis to voting rights of Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) and to create an inclusive discourse with that regard, ensuring that the popular disability related slogan ‘’’Nothing about us without us’’ is given its true meaning. To this effect, CMEV has been conducting a series of programs aimed at the realization of political / voting rights of PwDs, in parallel with both National level Elections held in 2015 as well.

As a part of the newest chapter of the said initiatives, the second consultative discussion was held on the 25^th of January in partnership with the Election Commission of Sri Lanka and the FRIDSRO. Key representatives of DPOs in Northern Province took part in this occasion.

The Additional Commissioner of the Election Commission of Sri Lanka Mr. Saman Sri Ratnayake attended this event as the main resource person, representing the Election Commission.  Mr. Bimal De Silva, Deputy Commissioner of Election Commission of Sri Lanka attended representing District Election offices of Galle and Programme Director of FRIDSRO Sri Lanka Ms. Kumudu Herath National and Co-founder of Enable Lanka Foundation Janith Rukmal also addressed the gathering.  National Co-ordinator of CMEV Manjula Gajanayake was the facilitator of the event.

CMEV has been engaging in various initiatives of empowering disability organizations to achieve their political rights, with special emphasis to voting rights of Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) and to create an inclusive discourse with that regard, ensuring that the popular disability related slogan ‘’’Nothing about us without us’’ is given its true meaning. To this effect, CMEV has been conducting a series of programs aimed at the realization of political / voting rights of PwDs, in parallel with both National level Elections held in 2015 as well.

As a part of the newest chapter of the said initiatives, the second consultative discussion was held on the 13th of January in partnership with the Election Commission of Sri Lanka and the Northern Province Consortium of Organization for Differently Abled (NPCODA). Key representatives of DPOs in Northern Province took part in this occasion.

The Additional Commissioner of the Election Commission of Sri Lanka Mr. Saman Ratnayake attended this event as the main resource person, representing the Election Commission. Mr. D.C. Aravindaraj, Assistant Commissioner and Mr. R.C. Amal Raaj, Assistant Commissioner attended representing District Election offices of Vavuniya and Kilinochchi respectively. National Co-ordinator of CMEV Manjula Gajanayake and Co-founder of Enable Lanka Foundation Janith Rukmal also addressed the gathering. The President of NPCODA Mr. V. Subramaniam was the facilitator of the event. The set of recommendations prepared by NPCODA in consultation with DPO’s in Northern Province, in order to facilitate voting rights of PwDs during the upcoming Local Government Election was handed over to the Assistant Election Commissioners of both Vavuniya and Kilinochchi districts.