PAFFREL, Sarvodaya hold dialogue on electoral reform

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 27 October 2004, 11:10 GMT]
"Electoral laws in Sri Lanka need to be critically reviewed and reformed if future elections are to be free and fair," said Mr Bandula Kulatunge in a discussion meeting in held in Vavuniya organized by PAFFREL and Sarvodaya attended by several civil organizations, sources said.

Legal advisor to PAFFREL, Mr Thushitha speaking at the event said, six such discussions will be held in diffferent districts in Sri Lanka. The views expressed in these discussions will be given a final form in a memorandum which will be submitted to the Elections Commission by PAFFREL and Sarvodaya, he added.

PAFFREL NorthEast Representative, Mr Sritharan, Deputy director, Mr Rohan, Election Commissioner for Vanni district, Mr Karunanithi, District commisssioner for Sarvodaya, Mr Kanagaratnam and other civil representatives from Mannar, Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu districts participated in the event.

The organizers said this is the first time an event of this type held in Vavuniya district.

PAFFREL (People's Action for Free and Fair Elections) is an umbrella organization which enjoys the unique distinction of having been the first ever citizen-based Election watch in Sri Lanka. It was formed by a group of NGOs in 1987 to monitor the Presidential Election of December 1988. Since then it has monitored all the major elections held in Sri Lanka.