UK’s Foreign Office Minister Alistair Burt has welcomed the provincial elections last Saturday but called for an investigation into the reports of intimidation and abuse of state resources in the electoral process.
Alistair Burt
Issuing a statement Burt said polls have been described as largely peaceful by Commonwealth and domestic observer missions, with high turnout across all three provinces. “This demonstrates the desire of the Sri Lankan people to engage in this democratic process which ensures all provinces now have a council for the first time since the end of the military conflict,” he said.
“I call on the Sri Lankan government and parties who won provincial seats to work together to contribute meaningfully to effective and inclusive regional governance in Sri Lanka,” Minister Burt said.
He said the lasting reconciliation all Sri Lankans deserve cannot be delivered by these polls alone, but the elections remain an important step in recognising the rights and aspirations of all citizens.
Burt also welcomed the access granted to local and international polls observers and the overall conduct of polling day. “However, I note with concern the credible reports of the misuse of state resources for campaigning, incidents of intimidation, and violence in the run-up to elections. I call on the authorities to investigate these serious allegations and ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice,” the UK Minister said.
RajasH / September 24, 2013
Now when you go to CHOGAM give a clear message to thre Govt.
Not just wine and dine at Cinnamon Gardens.
Beware Mervyn Silva may throw some women at you guys
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Burt / September 24, 2013
Make sure there are no old ladies coming in with you otherwise Mervyn might make a proposal. The guy has a fetish for old women.
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crazyoldmansl / September 24, 2013
Very good, but what do we do with this majority that wants the island to be a sinhalese buddhist one where minorities are discriminated against, marginalized and oppressed? Can we separate the democrats from the sinhala buddhists and ensure the democratization of the state? Can the prevailing culture of thuggery and murder, torture and rape be changed and if so how and by whom?
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srilal / September 24, 2013
“I call on the authorities to investigate these serious allegations and ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice,” the UK Minister said.”
What a joke , Mr Burt calling the culprits to investigate their own crime ! when you visit SL for CHOGM, make sure to close some lucrative deals for Rolls Royce prior to your anticipated human right lecturing .
G Briton , Australia and NZ shame on you great human right defenders of the world , Rolls Royce , Boat people and Fontera come first before every thing else , right ?
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gamini / September 24, 2013
For a Nation that a Franchise was afforded less than One Hundred years ago, today we are unable to reflect the real will of the people. If not for the Tamils in the North who braved all ‘Jilmarts’ of MR who tried to put his catchers as KP and Douglas D as a front to capture power in the North, failed miserably thanks to the TNA and the Tamils in the North. If one sees the intimidation by the Army on the civilians and the third grade tactics adopted by the MR Govt, there is little to imagine as to what they would have done in the other two Elections for them to register wins and for MR’s man Dayasiri Jayasekara to poll the highest.
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Lakshi Dias / September 24, 2013
I agree with srilal here the statement “I call on the authorities to investigate these serious allegations and ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice,” the UK Minister said.”the statement it self a joke.I believe Mr.But should participate CHOGM and just go without messing things up.
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Jim softy / September 24, 2013
when Tamils were killing everybody, blowing up every thing in their way, and when behaving like Barbarians where was this foreign office ?
Do these people have any shame ?
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Javi / September 24, 2013
If not for them you wouldn’t be riding the high horse.
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truth_seeker / September 24, 2013
After 25 years living in fear under a murderous dictator the government gave the people of the North a taste of democracy, and rightfully they have selected the leaders they wanted. What are the idiots here going on about? I am not a fan of SL government, but at least it has kept it word and accepted the results. As far as alleged intimidation is concerned, apparently it has not affected the results as obvious from the outcome for Jaffna district. If the leaders elected are not hardliners (and they don’t appear to be) this is a golden opportunity to unite under one flag and all be Sri Lankans and still have a degree of self rule that they have yearned for so long. Democracy has prevailed and like one great leader once said, what you got is a democracy if you can keep it. I hope this win won’t go into the heads of the tamil leaders and they would start working for their people and still identify as Sri Lankans. That is what everyone wants, at least I hope!
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chuti / September 24, 2013
At last..!!!!
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Suranee / September 25, 2013
Minister Alistair Burt
While thanking you for the interest you have in regard to the ‘rights and aspirations of all citizens’ in Sri Lanka, I as a citizen of this country wish to know something.
Why does your country allow people from terrorist infested countries to settle down in the UK ? Did you not know many send a large percentage of their earnings back to their country of origin to fund a war that is killing thousands or even millions of human beings?
It is many a Western country including yours that have ALLOWED terrorism to prevail in this world. Your politicians messed up the economy by letting asylum seekers/refugees, illegal immigrants, etc enter your land and eat away at the funds which should have been used for the progress of your own country and its people. Is this another strategy which your politicians came up with to get new votes? You want to save your nation and stop terrorists from having a global funding network, then send those asylum seekers, refugees and illegal immigrants all back to where they came from.
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