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Those who do not submit campaign finance returns by next Tuesday may lose political rights: Election Monitor

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Executive Director of the Institute for Democratic Reforms and Electoral Studies (IRES) Manjula Gajanayake has said that only 3,712 out of 75,589 contestants, 49 political parties and 257 independent groups who contested the 2025 local government elections on 6 May had submitted their campaign finance statements to the Election Commission (EC) by Thursday (22). He has warned that those who fail to do so by 27 May will have to face consequences as per the Campaign Expenditure Regulation Act No 3 of 2023.

 Gajanayake said those who violated the campaign expenditure laws may even lose their political rights; they may not be able either to vote or to contest election for three years.

Gajanayake said that IRES had been actively monitoring campaign expenditure incurred by political parties and candidates since 2024 and it was aware that four General Secretaries of recognised political parties had not submitted their campaign finance income/expenditure statements even though the candidates who repre sented the political parties had done so.

Three persons who proposed the candidatures of three contestants in the last presidential election had not submitted their campaign finance reports. Three candidates who contested the presidential election had failed to submit their campaign finance income/expenditure statements, the IRES said.

 The election monitor said that all 150 candidates who contested the Elpitiya Local Authorities Election and the political parties and independents had not submitted their campaign expenditure returns.

 Gajanayake said that of the 8,361 candidates who contested last year’s general election, only 7,412 candidates had submitted their campaign finance income/ expenditure statements. Of the 527 National List nominees, only 43 had submitted their campaign finance statements. Of the 690 political parties and independent groups that contested that election only 493 had complied with the legal requirement.

Gajanayake said that it was imperative that the authorities expedite the process of taking legal action against the offenders. The EC informs the Police of those who have violated the Campaign Finance Act. The police seek the Attorney General’s opinion before instituting legal action and this is a long, drawn-out process.

Gajanayake said it would be prudent for all concerned to submit their election campaign income/expenditure statements by the due date and avoid prosecution.

by PRIYAN DE SILVA 



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Police officers donate LKR 9,687,462 from day’s salary to ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund

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A sum of LKR. 9,687,462, raised from day’s salary officers of the Police Department, has been donated to the ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund, established to support the recovery of communities affected by Cyclone Ditwah and to assist in rebuilding the country following the disaster.

To date, officers of the Police Department have contributed over LKR. 74 million to the ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund through three such contributions of one day’s salary.

The donation was presented on Wednesday  (22) afternoon at the Presidential Secretariat by the Personal Assistant to the Inspector General of Police, Senior Superintendent of Police  C. C. Bamunuarachchi, to the Secretary to the President, Dr Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.

Chief Inspector  Udaya Kumara, Officer-in-Charge of the Police Secretariat, was also present on the occasion.

[Presidents Media Division]

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Heat Index at Caution Level in the Northern, North-central, North-western, Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, and Eastern provinces and in Monaragala district during the day time

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Warm Weather Advisory
Issued by the Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre
Issued at 3.30 p.m. on 26 April 2026, valid for 27 April 2026.

The Heat index, the temperature felt on human body is likely to increase up to ‘Caution level’ at some places in the Northern, North-central, North-western, Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, and Eastern provinces and in Monaragala district during the day time.

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.

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Opposition asks for PSC to probe Treasury theft

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Sajith

Opposition and SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa has called for the appointment of a Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) to investigate the illegal diversion of Treasury funds, amounting to US$2.5 million to a third-party account.

Premadasa has said both the chairmanship and a majority of the Committee’s membership should be held by the Opposition to ensure impartiality.

The government has not only failed to account for the loss of US$2.5 million but also deliberately withheld information from Parliament, the Committee on Public Finance (COPF) and the public, Premadasa has told the media, accusing the ruling party of seeking to deflect responsibility by initiating an internal departmental inquiry, which he describes as a biased process designed to justify predetermined conclusions.

The Opposition Leader has said only a transparent and independent probe could establish the facts, adding that such an investigation could be effectively carried out through a Parliamentary Select Committee led by the Opposition.

He has also warned that the alleged failure to inform Parliament about the missing funds amounted to a serious breach of accountability.

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