Kerry calls MR, wants free poll

United States Secretary of State John Kerry has telephoned President Mahinda Rajapaksa and urged him to ensure a free and fair Presidential election.

The US State Department said that the United States supports a free and fair electoral process in Sri Lanka that is credible, peaceful, and inclusive.

“To that end, Secretary Kerry called the Sri Lankan president yesterday to underscore the government’s responsibility to ensure the January 8th elections will be free from violence and intimidation and that the vote counting is carried out credibly and transparently. Of course, he and we all had seen the reports that you referenced,” State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki said.

She said the United States will continue to monitor the situation in Sri Lanka and urge the government, its election officials and police, all political parties and actors to ensure access to all vote centers for the voters to vote and counting centers for all international and domestic observers.

Psaki said the US is concerned about reports of violence and urged the government to ensure a transparent and credible investigation into any allegation of fraud or violence.