Sri Lanka not to invite UN monitors for presidential polls

Election Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya said U.N. monitors play a role only if an election is being held for the first time or if there were serious concerns over the electoral process.

In this November 20, 2014 photo, supporters of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa hold posters and celebrate following a call for presidential election in Colombo. The January 8 election will be mainly a contest between Mr. Rajapaksa and his former Minister Maithripala Sirisena.

Sri Lanka on Tuesday said it will invite foreign monitors to witness the presidential election in January.

Election Commissioner Mahinda Deshapriya said he would, however, not invite U.N. election monitors, Xinhua reported.

He told reporters that U.N. monitors play a role only if an election is being held for the first time or if there were serious concerns over the electoral process.

Mr. Dishapriya said that usually election monitors from Asia, the European Union and the Commonwealth were invited to see a major election.

The January 8 election will be mainly a contest between President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his former Minister Maithripala Sirisena.