The Commonwealth Observer Group (COG) including members from various Commonwealth regions with backgrounds ranging from political, electoral, civil society and human rights as well as legal field has reached Sri Lanka to observe the November 16 Presidential Election on the invitation of Election Commission (EC), reports Daily News on November 13. COG will receive briefings from relevant stakeholders including election management officials, representatives of political parties, civil society groups, the police, members of the international community and citizens and international observers. In a statement, COG Chair Prosper Bani said, “As independent observers, we will remain objective and impartial in discharging our duties. The Group’s assessment will be its own and not that of any Commonwealth member country. On November 14, observers will be deployed to various provinces across the country to observe preparations ahead of polling day and will issue an Interim Statement of its preliminary findings shortly after November 16. The final report will be submitted to the Secretary-General and made available to the public afterwards.