Former Kenyan VP to lead C’wealth election observer team to Sri Lanka
September 14, 2013 03:11 pm
The former Vice President of Kenya, Kalonzo Musyoka has been appointed by the Commonwealth to lead the observer team to Sri Lanka’s Northern Provincial Council Elections slated for the 21st September 2013.
The four member observer mission team which was announced by the Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma, will comprise Kalonzo as the Chairman, members Ms Jenni McMullan former Electoral Officer for Victoria, Australia, Dr Shamsul Huda former Chief Election Commissioner Bangladesh, Ms Examin Philbert Secretary, Caribbean Association of Local Government Authorities Saint Lucia.
In his letter to Kalonzo, Commonwealth Secretary-General said the elections were a “landmark to the Sri Lankan north province” and thus Kalonzo’s vast political and diplomatic experience will be of great benefit, Citizen News reported.
The Wiper leader who left the country on Friday night for Colombo and later Jaffna, where he is expected to take up the new assignment as from the 14th to 28th of September said it is heartwarming to serve humanity and thanked the commonwealth for appreciating his work.
The Kalonzo led mission is mandated to observe and consider all aspects of the electoral process and assess compliance with the standards for democratic elections to which Sri Lanka has committed itself to and where appropriate, the mission may also make recommendations for the future strengthening of the electoral framework.
The two weeks mission will culminate with the submission of a report to the commonwealth secretariat in London, who will in turn send it to the Government of Sri Lanka, the Office of the Commissioner of Elections, relevant Sri Lankan political parties and eventually to all Commonwealth governments.
The four member observer mission team which was announced by the Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma, will comprise Kalonzo as the Chairman, members Ms Jenni McMullan former Electoral Officer for Victoria, Australia, Dr Shamsul Huda former Chief Election Commissioner Bangladesh, Ms Examin Philbert Secretary, Caribbean Association of Local Government Authorities Saint Lucia.
In his letter to Kalonzo, Commonwealth Secretary-General said the elections were a “landmark to the Sri Lankan north province” and thus Kalonzo’s vast political and diplomatic experience will be of great benefit, Citizen News reported.
The Wiper leader who left the country on Friday night for Colombo and later Jaffna, where he is expected to take up the new assignment as from the 14th to 28th of September said it is heartwarming to serve humanity and thanked the commonwealth for appreciating his work.
The Kalonzo led mission is mandated to observe and consider all aspects of the electoral process and assess compliance with the standards for democratic elections to which Sri Lanka has committed itself to and where appropriate, the mission may also make recommendations for the future strengthening of the electoral framework.
The two weeks mission will culminate with the submission of a report to the commonwealth secretariat in London, who will in turn send it to the Government of Sri Lanka, the Office of the Commissioner of Elections, relevant Sri Lankan political parties and eventually to all Commonwealth governments.
