The Department of Elections has successfully converted the manual operating system used in registering voters in to an automated form. The official launch of this event was held at the Department premises today with the participation of the Commissioner of Elections Mr. Dayananda Dissanayake.

Up to now three electoral registers have been already computerised and initiative steps were taken to computerize 19 other electoral registers.

Mr. Dissanayake, addressing the gathering stated that this is one of the historical incidents in Sri Lankan elections history.

Minister of Minister of Urban Development and Sacred Area Development, Dinesh Gunawardana addressing the gathering stated that the automated electoral register system is essential for conducting an free and fair election in Sri Lanka, with its clarity and transparency.

Department of Elections had initiated this project of registering the people in an automated system in the year 1995, but the process became slower with the transformation of the computer operating systems from dos to windows. However, the department has been able to fulfill their task by 1997 by successfully registering the names of the people from the whole of Colombo district.

There are many direct advantages of registering the people in to an automated form. It provides transparency for the ultimate election result as well as out putting a clear and tampering-free ballot paper to the voters. It will also cut off the stamp cost spent on the postage of the normal manual electoral registers.

Sri Lanka has been funded by the American Government in this project of converting the manual operating system used in registering voters in to an automated form. The United States Government has fully granted the material aids needed for automating the electoral registers of 22 districts.

Mr. Dissanayake stated that at the end of this year the department will be able to automate the full electoral register for the year 2006.

(Courtesy: Department of Governement Information, Sri Lanka)