Campaign for Free and Fair Elections (CaFFE) is an independent civil group that works to promote and ensure respect for democratic norms in Sri Lanka. In particular, the group monitors elections and it speaks out against any human rights violation or failures in the democratic process.
The group is a broad civil society platform that combines election monitoring with activism, acting as a lobbying and pressure group. CaFFE works not only during the elections but also during the politically tense pre-electoral period, when violence is often used to intimidate opponents. Threats and intimidations impact negatively upon the lives of civilians and undermine the process of free elections.
CaFFE’s members belong to different ethnic groups of the country and the observers receive professional training from the organisation. The group also provides training to polling agents and counting agents, on legal and statistical aspects of elections.
CaFFE works at the national level and serves as an information point for the media during the elections in Sri Lanka, providing pre-election and on the day monitoring reports. As an independent third party with zero political affiliation, the organisation plays a fundamental role in monitoring and ensuring a free and fair election in the country.