Shevchenko Evgenii, Chairman of the Election Commission of Russia and part of an election monitoring mission in Sri Lanka, shared insights on the potential adoption of electronic voting in Sri Lanka as an alternative to paper ballots.
During a recent press conference in Colombo, he explained, “We (Russia) have introduced electronic voting via smartphones and computers instead of paper ballots. This system is currently being discussed with the Election Commission of Sri Lanka for future implementation.”
Sri Lanka’s Election Commission extended formal invitations to seven countries to participate as protocol visitors in the international election observer programme. Representatives from the Election Management Bodies of Russia, the Maldives, Bhutan, Nepal, and Bangladesh attended the meeting.
Fuwad Thowfeek, Chairman of the Election Commission of the Maldives, stated that international observers would be visiting polling stations in Jaffna, Trincomalee, and Colombo. “Our objective is to oversee election proceedings, ensuring adherence to rules and regulations, and safeguarding the freedom to vote for all eligible citizens over 18. We will monitor from a distance and flag any unauthorised or inappropriate activities,” he said.
When questioned about the absence of an Inspector General of Police in Sri Lanka, representatives of the member states confirmed that discussions had been held with the police to ensure full cooperation during the election period.
The Election Commission has also partnered with local observers and civil society organisations to strengthen election monitoring efforts. Collaborating with the European Union, 80 observers have been deployed across the island.
