US asks Lanka to ensure credible, transparent counting of votes

Encouraged by high turn-out in the bitterly contested presidential elections in Sri Lanka, the US has asked the incumbent Rajapaksa government to ensure credible and transparent counting of votes.

"We are encouraged by initial reports indicating high turnout. We are further heartened by reports that election observers have thus far been able to carry out their critical oversight role," State Department Spokesperson Jen Psaki said.

"We commend the role of the election commission, police and security forces in ensuring a peaceful process. We ask the Sri Lankan Government to ensure that vote counting is carried out credibly and transparently, and that any allegation of fraud or violence is credibly investigated," she said.

"We will wait to hear the announcement of the electoral commission and the reports from domestic and international observer groups before making an assessment of the voting process," Psaki said.

The US did not send international election monitors for the presidential elections in Sri Lanka. But the Sri Lankan Government invited international monitors from the Commonwealth, South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, and the Asian Network for Free and Fair elections, totaling around 84 international monitors.