News

General election 2024: Digamadulla leads with highest number parties, groups in fray

Published

6 months ago

2024/10/25

Thilina Walpola

Saman Sri Ratnayake

EC asks employers to grant workers leave for voting

By Rathindra Kuruwita

The Digamadulla electoral district has the highest number of political parties and independent groups contesting next month’s general election. There are as many as 64 of them, according to Commissioner General of Elections, Saman Sri Ratnayake.

The Polonnaruwa and Matale districts have fielded the fewest number of political parties and independent groups in the fray.

Of the 225 MPs, 29 are National List members. Seats are allocated on the basis of the electorates created according to a delimitation committee report from 1976. Ratnayake explained that, under Section 96(4) of the constitution, 36 seats are allocated to the nine provinces, with four seats each. A further 160 seats are allocated to electoral districts, as stipulated in Section 98 of the Constitution.

Addressing campaign finance laws, Ratnayake mentioned that Battaramulle Seelarathana Thero had not yet submitted his expenses report; 37 of the 38 presidential candidates had complied with the legal requirement. By the 13 October deadline, the Commission had received 35 reports, with two more arriving on 14 October, having been posted via registered mail on 11 October. The remaining candidate had written to the Commission to explain their inability to submit the report on time, Ratnayake said, noting that under campaign finance regulations, two reports must be submitted to the Commission: one by the candidate and the other by the political party. For independent candidates, the individual who proposed their candidacy must submit the expenses report. In the case of candidates representing political parties, it was the responsibility of the party General Secretaries to submit the reports. According to a gazette notification dated 16 August 2024, each presidential candidate was allowed to spend a maximum of 109 rupees per voter on campaign activities, amounting to over 1.8 billion rupees (approximately six million US dollars) per candidate. Of this, 60 per cent was allocated to the candidate and 40 per cent to the political party secretary managing the campaign. The reports submitted to the EC will be made available online and in person from 24 October.

“The Commission will meet this week to decide how to address the issue regarding Seelarathana Thero,” Ratnayake said. He said that, unlike the presidential election, where the expenditure ceiling was set at 109 rupees per voter, the general election has different limits depending on the electoral district. “There are 22 electoral districts, each with its own ceiling,” he said.

Ratnayake emphasised that voting was the right of all Sri Lankans and that no one should be obstructed from casting their vote. He urged employers to ensure that workers were given sufficient time to vote on 14 November. “We have received complaints ahead of the Elpitiya local council election on 26 October that some employers are not granting leave for employees to cast their vote. Employers are required to grant employees leave based on the distance to the polling station. This applies not only to the public sector. Do not compel us to take legal action,” he warned.

The Commissioner General said the manner in which the 21 September presidential election was conducted had been appreciated by both local and international observers, as well as by organisations and the diplomatic corps, as a model election. “Our elections are generally peaceful, especially on election day. The 21 September presidential election was particularly peaceful, and we must ensure this standard is maintained,” Ratnayake said.

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Heat index is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in Eastern and North-central provinces and Monaragala, Hambantota, Jaffna, Mullaittivu, Kilinochchi, Vavuniya and Kurunegala districts

Published

13 hours ago

2025/04/27

Priyan

Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre of the Department of Meteorology at 3.30 p.m. 26 April 2025, valid for 27 April 2025.

The public are warned that the Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in Eastern and North-central provinces and Monaragala, Hambantota, Jaffna, Mullaittivu, Kilinochchi, Vavuniya and Kurunegala districts.

The Heat Index Forecast is calculated by using relative humidity and maximum temperature and this is the condition that is felt on your body. This is not the forecast of maximum temperature. It is generated by the Department of Meteorology for the next day period and prepared by using global numerical weather prediction model data.

Effect of the heat index on human body is mentioned in the above table and it is prepared on the advice of the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medical Services.

ACTION REQUIRED

Job sites: Stay hydrated and takes breaks in the shade as often as possible.
Indoors: Check up on the elderly and the sick.
Vehicles: Never leave children unattended.
Outdoors: Limit strenuous outdoor activities, find shade and stay hydrated. Dress: Wear lightweight and white or light-colored clothing.

Note:
In addition, please refer to advisories issued by the Disaster Preparedness & Response Division, Ministry of Health in this regard as well. For further clarifications please contact 011-7446491.

Latest News

Minister of Foreign Affairs pays his last respects to Pope Francis

Published

13 hours ago

2025/04/27

Priyan

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath represented Sri Lanka at the funeral of Pope Francis on Saturday [26]

News

RW to visit CIABOC on Monday

Published

14 hours ago

2025/04/27

Thilina Walpola

Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe will appear before the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery and Corruption (CIABOC) tomorrow (28) over the statement he had made on MP Chamara Sampath Dassanayake, his lawyers have informed the Commission.

Accordingly, the former President will appear before the commission at 9.30am on Monday.

Wickremesinghe was initially summoned by the Commission to CIABOC on April 17 in relation to a statement he had made about the corruption case filed against NDF (gas cylinder) MP Dassanayake.

In response to the previous summons, Wickremesinghe had indicated that he is prepared to appear before the commission but requested a different date citing that his lawyers will not be available in Colombo during the New Year holiday period.

Accordingly, a new was provided and Wickremesinghe requested to appear before the commission at 09.30 a.m. on Thursday (April 25).On April 7, Wickremesinghe had said that MP Dassanayake withdrew the fixed deposits belonging to the Uva Provincial Council, over which he is now facing corruption charges, in accordance with a circular issued during Wickremesingher’s tenure as Prime Minister.

The former President questioned whether the MP’s arrest over the matter was in response to Dassanayake’s vocal criticism of the government in parliament.

The sitting MP is currently in remand custody for allegedly misappropriating a sum of Rs. 1 million of the Uva Provincial Council in 2016.

He was taken into custody on March 27, over three separate corruption-related cases.

The Colombo Magistrate’s Court previously granted bail in the cases filed against him but he remains in remand custody due to an order issued by the Badulla Magistrate’s Court.

According to the CIABOC, Dassanayake had solicited funds from three state banks, claiming they were intended to provide bags for preschool children in the province.

Two banks complied, granting him Rs. 1 million and Rs. 2.5 million, which were later transferred to his foundation account.

However, when a third bank refused to provide funds, Dassanayake reportedly retaliated by withdrawing the Uva Provincial Council’s fixed deposits from that institution.The CIABOC filed a case against the MP, citing the government incurred a financial loss of Rs. 17.3 million due to his actions.