GEORGETOWN, Guyana, Dec. 30, 2014, CNS – Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma on Monday announced that former Guyana President Bharrat Jagdeo will lead the Commonwealth Observer Mission to overlook the Presidential elections in Sri Lanka in January, 2015.
Jagdeo was Guyana’s longest serving President. He became President in 1999 after Mrs. Janet Jagan was forced to step down from office because of ill health. His presidency lasted until 2011 as the laws of the country barred him from seeking a third term.
Sharma said the Commonwealth Observer Group’s trip to Sri Lanka, is as a result of the formal invitation from Sri Lanka’s Commissioner of Elections, Mahinda Deshapriya.
The Commonwealth Group will consider the pre-electoral environment and preparations. On Election Day and thereafter, members will observe the voting process, counting and tabulation procedures and the announcement of results.
Upon completion of its assignment, the Group will submit its report to the Commonwealth Secretary-General, who will in turn send it to the Government of Sri Lanka, the Commissioner of Elections and the principal political parties, before making it available to all Commonwealth Governments, and eventually releasing it into the public domain.
The nine Observers will be in Sri Lanka from 2 to 14 January 2015. A five-member team from the Commonwealth Secretariat, led by Ms Katalaina Sapolu, Director of the Rule of Law Division, will support them.
