A team from the UN Technical Electoral Needs Assessment Mission has met key parliament members, including prime minister Harini Amarasuriya and opposition leader Sajith Premadasa, to assess opportunities for international support to strengthen electoral processes in Sri Lanka.
“The mission focused on gathering insights from a wide range of stakeholders including government representatives, political parties, election observers, civil society, and development partners,” parliament statement said.
“Discussions centered on enhancing the efficiency, transparency, and inclusivity of Sri Lanka’s electoral system.”
Key topics addressed included strengthening transparency and integrity in elections, increasing women’s political representation, promoting political literacy and voter education, advancing the digitalization of the electoral process, empowering voters, protecting voting rights, and tackling challenges faced by youth and women in politics.
The United Nations delegation expressed the UN’s willingness to extend technical assistance to support ongoing and future electoral reforms.
The delegation comprised Michele Griffin, Director of the Electoral Assistance Division; Dan Malinovich, Electoral Policy Specialist; Amanda Stark, Political Affairs Officer in the Asia and the Pacific Division; and Mikyong Kim, Political/Electoral Affairs Officer.