4 concerns in Sri Lanka snap presidential polls

Damaso Magbual

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4 concerns in Sri Lanka snap presidential polls

EPA

A Namfrel official describes the situation in Sri Lanka in the run-up to the January 8 presidential polls, and the similarities with the conduct of elections in the Philippines

Days before Pope Francis’ visit to Sri Lanka from January 13* to 15, 2015, the South Asian country will have a snap presidential election on January 8. (READ: Sri Lanka says papal visit on despite snap polls)

Damaso Magbual, chairman of the Asian Network for Free Elections (Anfrel), is in Sri Lanka and describes the situation there leading to the polls. He also notes some similarities with the conduct of elections in the Philippines.

The incumbent president of Sri Lanka, Mahinda Rajapsaka, was first elected in 2005. His government led an all-out war against the Tamil Tigers separatists in the north, ending a 25-year war.

Riding on his popularity for ending the insurrection, he got reelected in January 2010. His grip on power was further consolidated by an overwhelming majority win in the parliamentary elections of April 2010.

In September of the same year, the parliament passed an amendment to the country’s 1978 Constitution which restricts the term of a president to two, so that Rajapaksa can stand for unlimited terms in office. The amendment remains a controversy because it was not ratified in a referendum.

With two more years remaining in his term, Rajapaksa announced on November 20, 2014, the holding of a snap election.

Local observers believe that he called for a snap election to arrest a rapidly deteriorating loss of public support caused mainly by charges of corruption as well the public’s growing criticism on his wide ranging powers. (READ: Sri Lankan leader faces election battle as war effect wanes)

Sri Lanka's opposition and Democratic National Alliance presidential candidate Maithripala Sirisena. M.A.Pushpa Kumara/EPA

Sri Lankan Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena, the Secretary General of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party – the ruling party headed by the president – resigned from his posts the day after the president announced the snap election and joined the opposition.

He became the opposition coalition’s (United National Party) “common candidate”. Like the Philippines, turncoatism or “crossovers” as they call them is very common in Sri Lanka.

Election concerns

Election observers, local and foreign, have raised 4 concerns in this election.

First is the misuse of government resources particularly the state-owned media, for partisan ends by the ruling party.

Second is the prevalence of election violence. The Election Secretariat has reported that as of January 5, they have received 943 cases or incidents of electoral violence. It must be noted though that these incidents are too minor (threats, intimidation) compared with the Philippines. As of now, no report of death has been made. (READ: Violence escalates ahead of Sri Lanka polls: officials)

A third concern is the lack of transparency in the aggregation of results from the polling stations (precincts) to the districts and ultimately to the Department of Elections (the national level).

Very much like the Philippines, their canvass is likewise ‘ladderized’ involving various steps from the “result sheet” (our election return) to the final national canvass. The Bar Association of Sri Lanka submitted a six-point proposal to make the count more transparent.

Finally, there is the post-election fear of the involvement of the military in the event that the ruling party loses the vote. Independent observers have said that despite the overwhelming resources of the ruling party, this election is highly competitive, that can go either way.

Considering past experiences like the fate of General Fonseka (he was jailed for 3 years) when he ran against Rajapaksa, the election has come down to a “winner-take-all” contest. – Rappler.com

* Editor’s note: In a previous version of this story, it was stated that Pope Francis will visit Sri Lanka from January 12 to 15. According to his itinerary, the Pope will be in Sri Lanka starting January 13. We regret the error.


Damaso Magbual is the chairman of the Asian Movement for Free Elections (Anfrel) and a member of the national council of the National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel). (Photo from Anfrel’s Facebook page.)

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