Mandatory campaign expenditure reports: EC receives only two complaints

By Rathindra Kuruwita

The Election Commission (EC) had received only two complaints regarding inaccuracies in the mandatory campaign income and expenditure reports submitted by candidates for the November 2024 general election, Commissioner General of Elections Saman Sri Ratnayake said.

He said 8,821 candidates contested the election, of whom 1,064 had failed to submit their income and expenditure reports, adding that the EC was now working with the police to file cases against them. “We are only taking action against those who have not submitted their reports. We cannot take action against those who have submitted inaccurate reports,” Ratnayake said, urging civil society organisations and political parties to take a more proactive role in scrutinising the expense reports submitted to the EC.

“We display these reports, which are accessible to anyone. Civil society organisations and political parties can examine them, and if they find misleading information, they should take action. As far as I know, we have received only two such complaints, both from Jaffna.

I hope more civil society organisations and political parties will be proactive in this regard in the upcoming local council elections,” he said.Ratnayake also emphasised the need to hold the much-delayed local council elections as soon as possible, noting that they had already been postponed for 22 months.He added that the Election Commission is ready to conduct the election as soon as the Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils, and Local Government makes the necessary announcement.