- Vibha Attri

Sri Lanka’s Seventh Presidential elections held on January 8th, 2015 saw the common opposition candidate and leader of the New Democratic Front (NDF) Maithripala Sirisena, defeating ten-year incumbent President Mahinda Rajapaksa of the United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA).

Seeking an unprecedented third term, Rajapaksa had called for an early election in November 2014 as he had sensed a decline in his popularity which was visible in the recent provincial elections. Voter turnout exceeded 81 percent with Sirisena polling 51.28 percent of the votes as compared to 47.58 percent for Rajapaksa.

Sirisena, who was once a political ally of Rajapaksa, resigned from the ruling government due to increased charges of corruption, nepotism and a breakdown of rule of law in the government. Rajapaksa saw a sharp decline in his popularity from the high levels enjoyed after the end of 26 year-old civil war in 2009. He was accused of majoritarian policies, rising living costs, corruption, weakening of law and order, family rule by his clan and bad governance which resulted in his defeat.

A major factor for decline in his popularity was growing criticism of the wide-ranging powers that he enjoyed after passing the controversial 18th Amendment of 2010 which removed the presidency's two-term limit and gave absolute powers to him. The Tamil and Muslim minorities played a decisive role in this election. Generally regarded as less participative in the democratic process, the overwhelming votes cast by these communities of the North and East might have tipped the balance in favour of Sirisena. This victory can also be considered to be a rejection of Rajapaksa rather than endorsement of Sirisena.

I got an opportunity to observe these polls very closely as an International Observer for The Asian Network for Free and Fair Elections (ANFREL). As a part of the observation mission team I was deployed in Nuwara Eliya district located in the central province. During the period, I observed that the elections process was more or less peaceful and this became more significant in a county where the Election Commission (EC) is not an independent institution. The police and the EC took all the necessary steps to maintain peace in the district during the postal voting, campaign period, cooling day, election day and post-election period. Though the campaigning period was peaceful, it was more favourable to the ruling party.

Many tactics were adopted by the incumbent President’s campaigners to confuse voters such as printing and distributing fake ballot papers with alteration of the party symbols. There was misuse of state machinery with public buses being used to transport people to all major campaign rallies of Rajapaksa. There was an unequal access to media as most of the channels are owned and controlled by the state. I also observed the distribution of religious attires and food items to flood victims by the government as election bribes. The most common violation in the election was putting up of posters, banners, cutouts and other campaign materials outside the permissible posting areas. Tea estate managers, local politicians and village headmen played a crucial role in influencing voter preference. There was a general opinion among people that if the president is voted to power for the third time, then it would definitely lead to dictatorship.

Postal voting, which was conducted for public officers, teachers and security personnel on three different occasions took place without any major incidences of irregularities. The cooling period was observed to be relatively peaceful with some incidents of violation as newspapers continued to actively publish news, views, interviews, advertisement, promotional matters etc. Campaign websites were not closed down during the silence period and they were actively writing for and against the candidates.

The polling was conducted in a relatively smooth and peaceful manner with no major incident of violence or intimidation. Apart from polling staff and adequate security personnel, the presence of polling agents of both the parties in almost all polling stations and one member from the local team of People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) were positive features which ensured transparency of the polling process. The only irregularity that could be seen was in the setting of polling booth as it compromised the secrecy of ballot. The seating plan of the Senior Polling Officers enabled them to easily see who one had voted for. There was a need to spread awareness among the first time voters about the voting procedure. We also came across one polling station where campaign material could be seen within 500 meters of the polling station.

Despite the counting process being lengthy, a commendable job was done by the Department of Election. The counting of votes was undertaken immediately after the ballot boxes and other essential documents reached the counting center. Party agents and International Observers in most counting centers were allowed to observe the process for the first time. The power transition was peaceful, thus making the election as one of the most peaceful presidential election in the history of Sri Lanka.

Overall, the election were free, fair and peaceful. Voters demonstrated their free will through ballot and exercised their ‘five seconds sovereignty’ for change.