NEW DELHI : The High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to India, Mahishini Colonné, met the Chief Election Commissioner of India and Chairman of the Council of Member States of the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA), Shri Gyanesh Kumar, at Nirvachan Sadan in New Delhi on 27 July 2026.
The meeting reaffirmed the close and longstanding ties between Sri Lanka and India, underpinned by a shared democratic heritage, constitutional governance and vibrant electoral traditions. Discussions focused on strengthening cooperation between the Election Commission of Sri Lanka and the Election Commission of India through institutional exchanges, capacity-building and the sharing of best practices in election management.
During the meeting, the High Commissioner observed that Sri Lanka and India are among Asia’s most enduring electoral democracies. She noted that Sri Lanka’s early adoption of universal adult franchise and India’s experience as the world’s largest electoral democracy have provided a strong foundation for democratic governance, creating valuable opportunities for deeper collaboration and the exchange of expertise between the two countries’ Election Management Bodies.
Recalling the productive engagement between the Election Commission of Sri Lanka and the Election Commission of India during the India International Conference on Democracy and Election Management (IICDEM) 2026, discussion also touched upon ways to further institutionalise cooperation through training programmes for election officials, technical exchanges, capacity-building initiatives and continued dialogue on emerging trends and best practices in electoral administration.
The High Commissioner thanked the Chief Election Commissioner for the warm and constructive exchange and expressed confidence that closer cooperation between the Election Commission of Sri Lanka and the Election Commission of India would further strengthen the longstanding partnership between the two countries.
