24/09/24 (Agence Europe) – In a press release issued by the European External Action Service (EEAS) on Monday 23 September, the European Union congratulated Anura Kumara Dissanayake on his election as President of Sri Lanka on 21 September, welcoming the high turnout and the peaceful conduct of the elections. At the invitation of the Sri Lankan Election Commission, the EU deployed an Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) to assess the process (see EUROPE 13487/21). In a preliminary report, the EU EOM found that fundamental freedoms were largely respected and that the electoral commission conducted the elections in a transparent manner. It did, however, recommend improving the transparency of political financing and the participation of women in public and political life. A full final report, including recommendations for improving the electoral process in the future, will be published in around two months' time. (PLD)