Election monitors on way to SL

International election observers have started arriving in Sri Lanka in view of the January 8 presidential election, an official said today.

An Election Department official said a representative from the Forum of the Election Management Bodies of South Asia (FEMBoSA) arrived in the country on Sunday while several others would arrive in stages.

Elections Commissioner Mahinda Desapriya had invited representatives from three different international organisations including the FEMBoSA and the Commonwealth while Also, the SAARC election monitors from SAARC countries were also expected to participate in election monitoring.

In addition 35 election observers from the Asian Network for Free and Fair Election (ANFREL) will arrive on December 27 at the invitation of People’s Action for Free and Fair Election (PAFFREL). (Kelum Bandara)