Sri Lanka to monitor polls via texting

Sri Lankan election monitors have found a novel way to track any election violence or fraud during a November 17 presidential election by telling witnesses to send them a text message, according to tvnz.

"Some 2.7 million out of nearly 20 million Sri Lankans have mobile phones and trials during a 2004 parliamentary poll showed people who would not normally report incidents were keen to use the cheap and easy system.

"It's a good way to empower people," Jayomi Dhushiyanthan, marketing director for monitor People's Action for a Free and Fair Election (PAFFREL)."

"In 2004, we had over 9,000 messages from all over the island. We can alert the election commission, the police or even the ambulance."

Related: - Sri Lanka. Political propaganda by SMS

emily | 7:34 AM | SMS and Politics |
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