Statement by EU Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner on Sri Lankan elections

The Commissioner for External Relations, Benita Ferrero-Waldner made the following statement on the Sri Lankan elections:

"According to the preliminary findings of the EU Electoral Observation Mission, Sri Lanka's Presidential elections have taken place smoothly in the whole country, except for the North and East, and have shown several improvements as compared with the past. The Commission welcomes this result and congratulates the people of Sri Lanka, the Election Commissioner and his staff for this achievement.

However, I have seen with a lot of concern the various reports on the actions taken by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to prevent people from exercising their right to vote in some parts of the North and East. We deeply regret the attitude of the LTTE on election day. This is in complete contradiction with our repeated calls that they should allow for greater pluralism and democracy in the North and East of Sri Lanka."

I have congratulated the new President of Sri Lanka and assured him of the EU's continued support to efforts by all parties to reach a fair and sustainable solution to the Sri Lankan conflict. I have confirmed to him that I would maintain my strong personal involvement in the group of the Co-Chairs of the Tokyo Donor Conference. I intend to return to Sri Lanka early 2006 and I am looking forward to meeting President Rajapakse on this occasion."

The EU Electoral Observation Mission (EOM) deployed on the occasion of the Presidential election was the fourth EOM to Sri Lanka within five years. The mission was headed by former MEP John Cushnahan and consisted of a core team of 7 members, 22 long-term observers and 51 short-term observers, drawn from 21 Member States of the European Union as well as Switzerland. Observers reported from all 22 districts of Sri Lanka and observed the counting process in more than 70 centres across Sri Lanka.

Relations between Sri Lanka and the European Union have deepened considerably in recent years.

The EU (EC and Member States) has been a major donor in the framework of the peace process and reconstruction in the North and East. Aid has greatly intensified since last year's tsunami. The Commission alone has announced a reconstruction package of around €100 million, coming on top of a substantial €35 million of immediate humanitarian assistance.

The EU is also one of the Co-Chairs of the Tokyo Donor Conference, together with Japan, Norway and the United States. The Co-Chairs have met regularly since 2003 to monitor progress in the peace process and provide support for Norway's facilitation. The EU works closely with the parties to the Ceasefire Agreement and other stakeholders to the peace process, in support of their efforts at finding a fair and sustainable solution to the Sri Lankan conflict.

The EU is Sri Lanka's first trade partner and, since 1 July 2005, Sri Lanka has enjoyed the most concessional regime (GSP+) in terms of access to the European Union's market, opening up great potential for increased commercial co-operation.

Useful links:
EU Election Observation Mission's website
http://www.eueomsrilanka.org

UK Presidency statement on the Presidential election in Sri Lanka (19 November 2005)
http://www.eu2005.gov.uk

EC website on tsunami (updated)
http://europa.eu.int/comm/world/tsunami/

| Arriba |

• EU Presidency Declaration on situation in Sri Lanka (20/1/2006)
• EU Commission to host Sri Lanka Co-Chairs' meeting  (19/12/2005)
• Statement by Amb. Valenzuela, Head of EU Commission Delegation to UN, at Ceremony for International Election Observation (27/10/2005)
• EU to deploy Election Observation Mission to Sri Lanka for November 2005 Presidential Election (26/10/2005)
• Commission provides additional EUR 2 million to Sri Lankan returnees and refugees (27/5/2005)