Automated electoral registers will help prevent voting frauds - US envoy

Nadira Gunatilleke

COLOMBO: The launch of the automated electoral register system is a significant step forward in Sri Lanka’s long standing democratic tradition, US Ambassador Robert Blake said.

Addressing the official launch of the countrywide automated electoral register system at the Elections Secretariat Auditorium, Colombo yesterday, he said the countrywide automated electoral registration system will help prevent voting frauds and other shortcomings in the system. He also stressed on the importance of making it possible for the 1.5 million Sri Lankans employed abroad to cast their vote at elections.

The Ambassador said USAID has granted US$ 750,000 to establish an automated electoral registration system. Blake explained how election results were delayed for a month in Florida at the 2000 US Presidential elections due to the lack of an automated electoral registration system.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has obtained a majority in Parliament and it is now possible for him to strengthen the 17th Amendment to the Constitution by setting up the Elections Commission, Police Commission and the Public Service Commission, he added.

Urban Development Minister and Electoral Reforms Select Committee Chairman Dinesh Gunawardena said the introduction of a countrywide automated electoral registration system will have a huge impact on holding free and fair elections in Sri Lanka.

“This is a victory of the voters of Sri Lanka. All doubts and problems will be cleared. There were several complaints earlier. Only a handful of persons who will not get multiple registration will be heartbroken. The Electronic voting system will also be introduced to Sri Lanka soon”, he said.

“A majority thinks that the present electoral system should be changed. This new automated electoral registrations system will transform our electoral system into a modern, effective and transparent one,” the minister said.

Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake said the introduction of a countrywide automated electoral registration system will prevent duplicated or multiple registration of persons.

“The system will cut down to 20 per cent the work earlier done manually. Earlier Rs. 7.50 was spent on a single voter for registration but that cost is now being cut down by 75 per cent. The Secretariat staff is only 525. The project will be completed by the end of this year,” he said.

Dissanayake said there were demands from certain persons and groups to include voters’ ethnicity and language in this data base but he did not allow that to happen to ensure non partiality and transparency.

According to Dissanayake the project has already covered Colombo, Gampaha and Kalutara districts and is to be implemented for six other districts shortly.

The project is scheduled to be completed by the end of this year. This new system is the largest data base in Sri Lanka apart from the ATM database. This system helps voters to check whether their name is being registered, to translate data and to delete or enter a name swiftly according to change of residence.

International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) Representative Basu Mohan also spoke.