04-01-2004, 02:38 AM
<span style='color:red'>CANADA PROVIDES ASSISTANCE TO MONITOR ELECTIONS IN SRI LANKA
<img src='http://www.news.gc.ca/cfmx/CCP/Logos/goc-fip_e.gif' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham and Minister for International Cooperation Aileen Carroll today announced that Canada is providing $100,000 in support of an observer group to monitor Sri Lanka's parliamentary elections on April 2, 2004. The contribution will be provided by the Canadian International Development Agency to the Commonwealth Secretariat, which is organizing the international monitoring group.
"We hope that the presence of Canadian and other international election monitors at polling stations in Sri Lanka will help facilitate free and fair elections and deter acts of violence against those casting their ballots," said Minister Graham. "Once the people of Sri Lanka have expressed their collective will in a free and fair election, it will be important for the parties to resume the peace process as quickly as possible, so that Sri Lankans can live in peace and security."
"Canada stands with the international community in supporting and encouraging a transparent electoral process in Sri Lanka," said Minister Carroll. "In addition to bearing witness to the country's national elections, the monitoring group will, we believe, encourage respect for the rule of law and freedom of expression."
The monitoring group is made up of 15 members from across the Commonwealth, including Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, India, Malawi, New Zealand, South Africa and Trinidad and Tobago, and includes former Canadian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Ben Pflanz. The group arrived in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on March 24, and will remain in the country until after the completion of their report, expected within days of the closing of the polls.
In addition to its contribution through the Commonwealth Secretariat, Canada has provided $100,000 in direct funding to two Sri Lankan non-governmental organizations to enable them to also monitor the national election. The Centre for Monitoring Election Violence and the People's Action for Free and Fair Elections are deploying field-based monitors during the election campaign, on election day and following the release of election results.
Sri Lanka has been caught in the throes of a civil war for a generation, with fighting focused in the northeastern part of the country. Canada has been active in supporting a negotiated solution to the conflict, through the provision of both financial assistance and expert advice on issues surrounding political power-sharing in a post-conflict Sri Lanka</span>.
tamilcanadian....!
<img src='http://www.news.gc.ca/cfmx/CCP/Logos/goc-fip_e.gif' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham and Minister for International Cooperation Aileen Carroll today announced that Canada is providing $100,000 in support of an observer group to monitor Sri Lanka's parliamentary elections on April 2, 2004. The contribution will be provided by the Canadian International Development Agency to the Commonwealth Secretariat, which is organizing the international monitoring group.
"We hope that the presence of Canadian and other international election monitors at polling stations in Sri Lanka will help facilitate free and fair elections and deter acts of violence against those casting their ballots," said Minister Graham. "Once the people of Sri Lanka have expressed their collective will in a free and fair election, it will be important for the parties to resume the peace process as quickly as possible, so that Sri Lankans can live in peace and security."
"Canada stands with the international community in supporting and encouraging a transparent electoral process in Sri Lanka," said Minister Carroll. "In addition to bearing witness to the country's national elections, the monitoring group will, we believe, encourage respect for the rule of law and freedom of expression."
The monitoring group is made up of 15 members from across the Commonwealth, including Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, India, Malawi, New Zealand, South Africa and Trinidad and Tobago, and includes former Canadian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Ben Pflanz. The group arrived in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on March 24, and will remain in the country until after the completion of their report, expected within days of the closing of the polls.
In addition to its contribution through the Commonwealth Secretariat, Canada has provided $100,000 in direct funding to two Sri Lankan non-governmental organizations to enable them to also monitor the national election. The Centre for Monitoring Election Violence and the People's Action for Free and Fair Elections are deploying field-based monitors during the election campaign, on election day and following the release of election results.
Sri Lanka has been caught in the throes of a civil war for a generation, with fighting focused in the northeastern part of the country. Canada has been active in supporting a negotiated solution to the conflict, through the provision of both financial assistance and expert advice on issues surrounding political power-sharing in a post-conflict Sri Lanka</span>.
tamilcanadian....!
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