2005 Presidential Elections ‘free and fair’ says PAFFREL

[June 13, 2006 - 8.00 GMT]

The Presidential elections held November last year were free, fair and one of the best elections in Sri Lanka’s recent history, said PAFFREL in its report on the Presidential Elections held in November 2005. The report was handed over to the President yesterday at Temple Trees by representatives of PAFFREL.

A discussion on the possessing of unauthorized firearms and small arms was held, during which the PAFFREL delegates pointed out that about 35,000 such weapons are presently in the hands of various individuals in the country. Views were also exchanged on the present situation in the country and the peace process.

The President said the Government’s stance on the peace process remains unchanged and it believes in a negotiated solution to the national problem. He also pointed out that the Government did not seek undue advantage out of the EU ban of the LTTE and did not use it as a weapon against the LTTE. Instead the Government conducted itself with great patience and dedication. He also said that civil organizations have a responsibility to be involved with activities relating to the minimizing the possession of unauthorized firearms.

An album containing the signatures and photographs of 11, 750 Sri Lankan to a petition signed by a million Member states of the UN pertaining to this issue and to be handed over to the United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan was handed over to the President.

Representatives from the National Commission for Minimizing Unauthorized Firearms and Small Arms, the National Peace Council, South Asian Small Arms Network and the Association for the Missing Persons participated in the discussion.

Peoples’ Action for Free and Fair Elections [PAFFREL] was formed by a group of NGOs in 1987 to monitor the Presidential Election of December 1988. It is the first ever citizen-based Election watch in Sri Lanka.