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SL displeased with EU statement

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2 January 2015 02:37 pm - 37     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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The Government of Sri Lanka today expressed its displeasure over the statement made by the EU Heads of Mission in Colombo on how the presidential election should be held.


In a statement, the External Affairs Ministry said that domestic elections were not for foreign government representatives to be prescriptive about, that too, a few days ahead of the polls.


“It is therefore surprising that the EU Heads of Mission in Colombo should have resorted to a press statement on an issue of a strictly domestic nature. Such an initiative could bring into question the bona-fides and objectivity of their intervention,” it said.


The ministry said the Elections Commissioner, who is an independent authority, has been mandated by the statutory powers vested in him, with the task of conducting free and fair elections.  


“Sri Lanka has a vibrant tradition of democratic practice since 1931 and has been conducting elections at regular intervals, in a peaceful and orderly manner, while the electorate has continued to cast their vote freely, in large numbers,” it said.

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  Comments - 37

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  • dcn Saturday, 03 January 2015 09:41 AM

    Great but could the ministry of external affairs assure that the elections commissioner has all the powers and he could conduct his functionsWithout fear or favour.

    pandora Saturday, 03 January 2015 03:54 AM

    This is a government that gets annoyed by little things, while the head of the state of this country goes to UN and other forums with plane loads of his kith and kin and use all his speeches to bash the West. What would you expect in return? Good riddance.

    Ram Saturday, 03 January 2015 04:25 AM

    Government unhappy about EU calling for Peaceful Transparent presidential Election. Why, Government may be having other ideas to engage in corrupt and other practices. So it wants EU not to shut up. It is the norm of the day

    John Saturday, 03 January 2015 05:54 AM

    Massive use of state resources(ex.state media, government employees, police), thuggery, intimidation, bribery by the government and it corrupt stooges is not a free and fair election. In no country decent country in the world would state resources be used for government propaganda and to harass opponents.

    Vincent Gunasekera Saturday, 03 January 2015 07:44 AM

    Nice words. Do you think anybody will believe this crap?We citizens see how this so called "free and fair" election is being conducted by both main parties and Elections Commissioner (EC). EC may be willing to conduct the election professionally but is he allowed to do that? Just look at how the government violate election laws.Conducting elections at regular intervals does not ensure functioning of a democracy. We can boast that we had free and fair elections before 1977. The only free and fair election after 1977 was held in 1994 under late President Wijetunga.The M/EA cannot fool these EU ambassadors in Colombo as they travel all over the country, read newspapers and I hope they watch television as well.The only positive of this statement is that we could observe that Professori is still in the country? Where is he? Is he pampering the baby in Hambantota?

    gobbaya Saturday, 03 January 2015 08:00 AM

    if the country was governed more professionaly none of this would have happenned.... via DM Android App

    Duminda Saturday, 03 January 2015 08:05 AM

    Yes EU interference is a good move. Beside whole world knows what is happening in Sri Lanka now.

    C.K.Lankaputhra Saturday, 03 January 2015 08:05 AM

    “Sri Lanka has a vibrant tradition of democratic practice since 1931 and lost since 2010 and the whole world knows about it.

    rw Saturday, 03 January 2015 08:33 AM

    anayda kiyyane via DM Android App

    lokka Saturday, 03 January 2015 09:02 AM

    Make him persona non gdata

    Nims Saturday, 03 January 2015 03:25 AM

    I am neither a supporter of MR nor wants him to be the President for the third time. But EU has no right to interfere or make any comments on our internal affairs. They are very cleaver in criticising the politics in our region whilst they indulge the dirty things happening in their own backyard

    demel Saturday, 03 January 2015 10:40 AM

    Eu believe the correct corruption here.They should monitor.All citizens here will warmly welcome. via DM Android App

    lakshmanu Saturday, 03 January 2015 11:58 AM

    ME OKKOMA ENGALANTHE, ENGALANTHE. LANKAWE EHEMA WENNE NE!

    lakshmanu Saturday, 03 January 2015 12:00 PM

    ME OKKOMA ENGALANTHE, ENGALANTHE. LANKAWE EHEMA WENNE NE!!!

    John Saturday, 03 January 2015 12:04 PM

    What is the comment of the eu..so comments can be made.

    bua Saturday, 03 January 2015 12:29 PM

    Government with back bone

    Senator Saturday, 03 January 2015 01:06 PM

    How can you stop them now? You allowed outside interference right from the end of the war.Instead of working with all concerned parties to solve the long lasting problems,you went on a spending sphree celebrating victory in Colombo while the battered people all over the country where left to fend for themselves.Its but natural you will get outside interference.

    Ryan Saturday, 03 January 2015 01:22 PM

    the EU can see how election laws are violated.. posters cutouts... so its obvious mahinda doing everything he can to win via DM Android App

    K. C. John Saturday, 03 January 2015 11:32 PM

    This govt. lost the preferential tariff into the EU for exports by our garment industry, making us completely noncompetitive in that market. Slamming the EU like this is not going to help. Anyway, this is only until 8th January, no?

    lionheart Friday, 02 January 2015 10:40 PM

    The vibrant nature of democracy in SL is very evident.....my foot.

    vithura Friday, 02 January 2015 09:31 PM

    This man has always been living in cloud cuckoo land and thinks the rest of the world are blind, deaf and dumb.

    ravi Friday, 02 January 2015 09:36 PM

    aha does this rule apply to Indian film stars idiots via DM Android App

    TONY Friday, 02 January 2015 09:55 PM

    THE MANNER IN WHICH ELECTIONS ARE HELD IN SRI LANKA (PARTICULARLY THIS PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS) IS CAUSE FOR CONCERN

    Bala Friday, 02 January 2015 09:58 PM

    Ha Ha. The last paragraph says it all - does anyone believe we have had free

    jacky dias Friday, 02 January 2015 09:59 PM

    it will be a suprised to see if a fair election takes place.

    Empulze Friday, 02 January 2015 09:59 PM

    To practice mal practices its quite easy but to admit its so very difficult via DM Android App

    Sammy Friday, 02 January 2015 10:20 PM

    Not sure how vibrant a democracy SL is right now.

    Daham Friday, 02 January 2015 10:31 PM

    Is it a bad thing to ask for a fair election after seeing everything that has been done over the past 2 months?

    GC Friday, 02 January 2015 09:28 PM

    These people in the government do not seem to have learnt that one is measured by ones behaviour and not what says, especially when much news to the contrary is available in the media.

    Rata Dinawana Magak Friday, 02 January 2015 10:49 PM

    May be... Lately Sri Lanka has a too much vibrant tradition of democratic practices.... Vibrating rocks were hurling from the losing side to winning side rallies in many parts of the country and latest was in Pelmadulla...

    nic Friday, 02 January 2015 11:05 PM

    As the EAM claims Sri Lanka may have had elections since 1931. However the elections of late have been questionable and not without irregularities including the run up to elections where opposition is threatened and freedoms of people suppressed by state thuggery. Hence civilized country representatives are a source of caution as was EU in this instance.

    dcn Friday, 02 January 2015 11:16 PM

    Happy to see the statement issued by the External Ministry. However, can they assure the Elections Commissioner is independent and has mandatory powers to hold free and fair elections?

    Ruwan Friday, 02 January 2015 11:18 PM

    Government wants to hold election under banana republic law and not under civic law.

    jay Friday, 02 January 2015 11:22 PM

    "A great civilization is not conquered from without until it has destroyed itself from within",

    Open Eyes Saturday, 03 January 2015 12:05 AM

    EU knows the real reasons

    Dom Saturday, 03 January 2015 02:34 AM

    Finally the Democracy is watching!

    raj Saturday, 03 January 2015 02:38 AM

    Is there any independent authority in this country under the present regime?


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