The Election Commission of Sri Lanka has announced that it will release the income and expenditure reports of all candidates who participated in the recent parliamentary election, including party secretaries, independent group leaders, and national list candidates. These reports will be made publicly available starting today (17).
Election Commission Chairman R.M.A.L. Ratnayake confirmed that the reports will be accessible at all district secretariats across the country as well as at the Election Commission office in Rajagiriya. This move comes as part of an effort to ensure transparency in the election process.
Candidates were required to submit their income and expenditure reports by the deadline of midnight on December 6, as stipulated by the Election Expenditure Regulation Act. Of the 8,361 candidates who contested the election, 7,412 candidates representing political parties at the district level have submitted their financial documents, accounting for approximately 88% of those running under party tickets.
In addition, 493 out of 690 independent candidates (around 71%) have submitted their reports, while 434 out of 527 national list candidates (around 82%) have complied with the submission requirement. These reports include detailed information about the financial sources and spending during the election campaign, in line with the regulations set forth by the Election Commission to prevent election-related corruption.
Ratnayake also pointed out that legal action will be pursued against those candidates who failed to submit their reports within the specified deadline. He emphasized that the Election Commission is committed to upholding the integrity of the election process and ensuring accountability among all participants.
This publication of financial reports is seen as a significant step towards enhancing electoral transparency and addressing concerns about the influence of money in politics. The Election Commission hopes to create a more informed electorate by making this financial data available to the public.
