President given final report by Chief observer Cushnahan
[March 7, 2006 - 10.30 GMT ]

Chief Observer John Cushnahan met with President Mahinda Rajapaksa this morning and presented him with the Final Report of the European Union’s Election Observation Mission, which observed the 2005 Presidential election. The Legal/Election expert from his Observation team Ms. Idoia Aranceta from Spain accompanied him. 

Last evening a summary of the report was handed over to the President’s Secretary Lalith Weeratunga. 

Mr. Cushnahan is also scheduled to meet the UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, and the leaders of Sri Lanka's other main political parties. He will also meet Election Commissioner Mr. Dayananda Dissanayake and representatives of civil society.  

The Final Report on the 2005 Presidential election is based on what John Cushnahan’s 80 strong observer team witnessed during its two-month mission. The report will make a number of major recommendations for strengthening the electoral process in Sri Lanka.

EU Chief Observer Cushanhan previously observed the 2000, 2001 and 2004 elections here. The Chief Observer delivered his Preliminary Statement immediately after the elections in November 2005. 

Before his departure to Sri Lanka, Chief Observer Cushnahan said:
"My formal programme with Sri Lanka's political parties begins tomorrow morning (Tuesday March 7) when I will have a meeting with President Mahinda Rajapaksa. At the heart of the discussions with political leaders will be the Final Report of the European Union Election Observation Mission and especially the recommendations that it contains. These suggestions are put forward in an attempt to improve the electoral process based on our experiences in observing not only last year's Presidential Election but also the 2000, 2001 and 2004 Parliamentary Elections. "I am also here to listen and learn. I want to hear the views and ideas of politicians, election officials, civil society representatives and other stakeholders as to how we can work together in the future to protect and strengthen Sri Lanka's long tradition of democracy."

 

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Last Updated Date: March 7, 2006 -10.30 GMT