Situation Updates

The training on the third and fourth Modules of certificate courses for the protective CMEV Monitors was conducted on September 30 and October 01, 2023, for the first batch which included 70 prospective monitors. Participants included 36 Males, 33 Females and 01 LGBTIQ community member. The training was conducted as a two-day residential training at TI Rathana Community Training Centre in Kottawa. The third module of the training was on Election Campaign Finance Regulations which included sessions about understanding the significance of the Campaign Finance Regulations, Present laws on regulating Election Campaign Finance in Sri Lanka, Cost calculation and monitoring methods and strategies to implement Election Campaign Regulations. The above sessions were covered by Mr D.M.Dissanayake AAL, Mr Dharmasiri Nanayakkara, former Local Government Commissioner in Western Province and Mr Thisitha Siriwardana AAL and Former Coordinator of CMEV on monitoring election campaign expenses in 2019 and 2020 elections. The fourth module of the training was expected to provide a comprehensive understanding of the physical and digital protection of Election Observers. Sessions were conducted by Mr Shan Wijetunga, Senior Journalist and media trainer and Mr Haritha Dahanayaka, Social Media security trainer and Information Technology expert. The participants provided an extensive understanding of election observers’ safety, new trends, threats, and challenges under the physical safety topic and commonthreats election monitors may face, such as hacking, surveillance, and disinformation campaigns under the digital safety topic. Further, they were provided with real-world examples of digital security breaches during elections. 225 election observers are included in the full training program which is designed with sixmodules covering the most essential components for election monitoring.

CMEV expresses its grave concern about the first death reported yesterday in connection with the LocalGovernment Elections 2023. This death follows from the undemocratic and repressive actions of the Sri LankaPolice to prevent a protest rally organised by the National People’s Power (NPP). Nimal Amarasiri, a NPP candidatefor the Nivithigala Pradeshiya Sabha, died from injuries sustained due to Police-directed water cannon and tear gas assaults at the protest rally in Colombo, on February 26, 2023. The NPP rally was held to protest the indefinite postponement of Local Government Elections announced by theElection Commission in the face of continuous obstructions to holding elections from the President andGovernment. The rally was held in defiance of a Court Order against it. The Police directed heavy water cannon and tear gas assaults at the large crowd, leading to 28 people being hospitalized and two being admitted to the Intensive Care Unit. One of these persons was Mr. Amarasiri, who passed away yesterday. CMEV deplores the oppressive efforts by the Government led by the President to violate the people’s right to vote.In particular, CMEV condemns the Government’s use of the Police to obstruct people’s democratic rights and actin an extremely repressive manner. CMEV reminds the Government and all public officials that they are duty-boundto protect the people’s fundamental right to vote. As such, the Sri Lanka Police and all relevant public authoritiesshould comply fully with the inquiry initiated by the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka at a minimum, andrefrain from preventing, obstructing and/or inflicting violence on any future democratic protests. Download in Sinhala Download in Tamil Download in English

28th February 2023. The Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) and its Executive Director filed a Fundamental Rights application challenging the failure and/or refusal of several government departments to take the necessary steps to hold the Local Government Elections. CPA is a constituent member and acts as the secretariat to the Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV). Elections to elect persons as members of Local Authorities in Sri Lanka are required to be held every 04 years (48 months) in terms of the relevant statutes. Elections were previously held in 2018, and the term of the Local Authorities that were due to expire in 2022 were extended for a year thereafter, and their term will expire shortly, with no further option available in law for extension. On 30th January 2023, it was announced that the poll for Local Authorities Elections would be held on 09th March 2023. However, on 13th February 2023, the Elections Commission announced that it had been informed by the Government Printer that it would not be able to print the ballots necessary for the postal voting, if funds were not provided. It has also been reported that the Government Printer had stated that they cannot print the required ballot papers due to lack of Police security. The Petitioners stated that the conduct of the Government Printer and the Inspector General of Police are indicative of a coordinated campaign to procrastinate the holding of Local Authority elections. The Petitioners also stated that the President, in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, and the Secretary to the Treasury have not, until the very last minute on the 23rd February 2023 indicated that there is a challenge in the allocation of funds to conduct the elections. These actions are prejudicial to the fundamental rights of the Petitioners and citizens of Sri Lanka. The Petitioners have emphasized that the exercise of franchise as required in terms of the law is essential for a country to be a democracy, and the conduct of elections must be treated as an essential, for Sri Lanka to be and remain a democratic republic. The Petitioners state that their rights under Articles 10, 12(1) and 14(1)(a) of the Constitution have been violated and/or continue to be violated by such attempts to sabotage and stall the holding of the Local Authority elections. Download in sinhala Download Tamil Download in English