Sri Lanka, April 20 -- 20 percent reduction in number of observers anticipated Volunteers step up to fill breach Polls complaints show downward trend Election monitoring groups expressed grave concern yesterday that a lack of funds resulting from the dismantling of the USAID by the current US administration could have a severe impact on monitoring the May 6 Local Government (LG) Election.

The USAID, which came under funding and staff cuts proposed by billionaire Elon Musk as the head of the US Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), provided funds for improving democratic processes, including the monitoring of elections, in many Global South countries. Musk said on his social media platform X that he "fed the USAID to the wood chippe...