July 21, Colombo (LNW): The upcoming Presidential Election in Sri Lanka is expected to cost Rs. 10 billion, R.M.A.L. Ratnayake, Chairman of the Election Commission disclosed.
A significant portion of this expense, approximately Rs. 8 billion, is allocated for printing, including ballot papers.
Ratnayake noted that the cost of printing has quadrupled since 2019, attributing the increase to the rising prices of goods and services.
For the first time, the Presidential Election will be conducted under the Election Expenditure Regulation Act No. 3 of 2023, which was enacted to ensure the true will of the people is reflected without bribery, coercion, or voter intimidation.
This law, which has been in effect since 24 January 2023, sets a cap on the maximum amount that political parties and candidates can spend on their campaigns.
Following the receipt of nominations, political party secretaries will be consulted to determine the allowable campaign expenditure for each candidate.
All candidates are required to submit detailed expenditure reports to the Election Commission within 21 days after the election concludes.
Ratnayake also mentioned that the public can report any violations of the expenditure limits, and the police have been authorised to investigate such complaints and take legal action through the Attorney General’s office.
Additionally, measures will be taken to monitor and regulate candidates’ self-promotion on social media platforms such as Facebook and YouTube during this year’s Presidential Election.
