COLOMBO, Sept. 30, 2024 — The Election Commission of Sri Lanka has suspended two subsidy orders issued by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, which were aimed at providing financial relief to farmers and fishermen. The suspended programs included a Rs. 25,000 fertilizer subsidy for farmers and a fuel subsidy for the fishing community, both of which were set to be implemented starting tomorrow.
The Election Commission halted the programs due to concerns of vote bribery as the subsidies were announced after the election had been called. The commission argued that these subsidies could unfairly influence voters and compromise the fairness of the upcoming election. In a statement, the commission advised that these policy decisions be implemented after the election to avoid any prejudice toward candidates.
Notably, former President Ranil Wickremesinghe had proposed similar subsidies before the presidential election, but the Election Commission blocked those measures as well for similar reasons. The recurring suspension of such proposals highlights the commission’s commitment to maintaining a level playing field during the election period.
The public awaits further clarification on how these subsidies will be handled post-election.
