The Handover Ceremony of Solar Lamps regarding the Grant Programme for Supporting the 2015 Myanmar General Elections was held in the attendance of H.E. U Tin Aye, Chairman of the Union Election Commission, H.E. Mr. Tateshi HIGUCHI, Ambassador of Japan to Myanmar and Mr. Toily Kurbanov, Country Director of UNDP Myanmar on 30 October 2015.

The Government of Japan provided 51,298 solar lamps, 2 each for 25,649 polling stations without access to electricity all around Myanmar though UNDP.

The November 8 Election is significantly important as a key test of democratization of Myanmar. Credibility and transparency would be necessary for holding free and fair elections. The light of the solar lamps provided by the Government of Japan will enable counting votes in a fast, smooth, credible and transparent way across Myanmar.

The Government of Japan is contributing to holding free and fair elections not only by providing items needed for holding elections, but also by election observation. The Japanese Government Election Observation Team, headed by H.E. Mr. Yohei SASAKAWA, Special Envoy of the Government of Japan for National Reconciliation in Myanmar, will observe the election. The Government of Japan also funded supplying of indelible ink to prevent double voting through UNDP.

The Government of Japan will continue to support democratization and national reconciliation of Myanmar strongly while supporting the holding of free and fair elections on November 8.