FORMER Attorney General Allyson Maynard Gibson will observe Sri Lanka’s presidential election, which will be held on September 21, as a member of the Commonwealth Observer Group (COG).

Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland, KC, announced the 14-member group, saying: “Election observation work is a core strength of the commonwealth, providing vital support to the process and institutions of democracy across our member states, in line with the principles and aspirations of our charter.”

The independent observer group will verify whether the election adheres to Sri Lanka’s electoral laws and meets applicable regional, Commonwealth, and international standards. The observers will follow the International Declaration of Principles for Election Observation, originally endorsed by the Commonwealth at the UN in 2005, to ensure that the process is conducted with professionalism and integrity.

After the assignment, the COG will submit a report with its observations and recommendations.