News

EC ready to hold general election in 2024 if …

Published

2 years ago

2024/08/16

Thilina Walpola

Saman Sri Rathnayake

By Rathindra Kuruwita

Expenditure incurred by the Elections Commission increases exponentially if the length of the ballot paper exceeds 27 inches, Saman Sri Rathnayake, Commissioner General of Elections has said.

“In 1982, there were only six candidates. The ballot paper was about five inches. We could stuff about 900 ballot papers into one ballot box. In 2019, there were 35 candidates and the ballot paper was about 26 inches long. Let’s assume the number of voters didn’t change in a polling centre. We have to send three ballot boxes now to a place we sent one in 1982. We can send one ballot box with the SPO and a policeman in a cab. When we have to transport three ballot boxes, we need to hire vans. Imagine the increase in cost for transporting ballot boxes alone,” he told The Island.

Rathnayake added that each candidate was allowed to send one letter to each household, free of charge. There are 6.5 million households.

“At the polling centre, each candidate can have two people as agents. Where will we house these people? We need to find larger rooms,” he said.

About 83% of electors had cast their vote in 2019, Ratnayake said, adding that going by that percentage, in 2024 about 14.4 million people were likely to vote. There are 17 million eligible voters. Rathnayake said that the 2015 presidential election cost the taxpayer 2.7 billion rupees, in 2019 the expenditure went up to 4.4 billion rupees and in terms of the latest estimates, the government has already allocated 10 billion rupees.

Ratnanayake also said the Campaign Finance Act was in force and election monitors are paying close attention to the money spent by candidates on their campaigns.

“According to election laws, a candidate can’t take money from another government and use that money for campaigning. You also can’t take money from multinational companies or international voluntary organisations. Candidates also have to reveal the sources of their finances,” he said.

The nomination board of the Elections Commission could only consider objections in respect of the candidates who had violated the Presidential Elections Act, Ratnayake said.

Ratnayake said that the nomination committee did not have adequate time to investigate allegations against a candidate. The committee on the presidential elections comprises the five members of the Elections Commission.

“The board usually has a few hours to verify everything. They only look at a few things, i.e., whether the candidate has signed the nomination papers, whether the party has signed, whether a JP has certified details of a candidate, etc.,” he said.

Those on the nomination boards could not even independently verify the signatures of candidates, Ratnayake said. Those on the nominations board had to accept the signature certified by the General Secretaries of political parties. “Even if another party raises objections, by claiming that a candidate is a citizen of another country, there is nothing we can do. How could we determine this? Only courts can look into such claims,” he said.

When questioned about the weekly Cabinet press conference and events held at the Presidential Media Centre, the Commissioner General of Elections said the commission had no authority to prevent them.

“Sometimes, ministers speak about salary increases and various other concessions that will be given to people next year. However, as government servants, we know that ministries and departments have not even sent estimates and proposals for the 2025 budget. So, the media must cover such events critically and make people aware of the true situation.”

Ratnayake said the presidential candidates are required to submit their expenditure reports within 21 days after the conclusion of the election. The Election Commission made them public within 10 days, after which the public could lodge complaints.

The Elections Commission was also ready to hold a parliamentary election in 2024 if the person who secured the presidency dissolved parliament immediately afterwards. “According to the Constitution, the President can dissolve Parliament two and half years after its election. The Constitution also says that the necessary funding should be provided for the elections commission from the consolidated fund. We are also bound to hold the parliamentary election within 66 days after the dissolution of Parliament.

Ratnayake said Sri Lanka had held seven presidential elections, and elections officials had always been ready to count the preferential votes if necessary. If a candidate could not obtain 50 percent and one vote, the preferential votes had to be counted. “When we count the votes, we count the preferential votes. Many people think that we start counting second or third preferential votes only if one can’t get a majority. That’s not the case. We count them in one go. We have already estimated the number of officials and vehicles we want for election duties,” he said.

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News

Record 1,600 students take Russian Classical Ballet examination in Sri Lanka

Published

14 hours ago

2026/10/18

Priyan

More than 1,600 students sat this year’s Russian Classical Ballet Examination, the largest number ever to take part in the examination in Sri Lanka. Exams were held in Colombo from 5, to 18, October and in Galle on 10 October.

Students aged four and above came from across the island, including Colombo, Galle, Gampaha, Negombo, Matara, Kelaniya, Panadura, Wattala, Kiribathgoda, Ratnapura, Kandy, Kurunegala, Bandarawela and Badulla. They are taught by 15 dedicated teachers trained in the Vaganova method, the renowned Russian system of classical ballet training.

They were examined by Dr. Oxana Karnovich of the Moscow State Academy of Choreography, a distinguished academic and curator.

The Russian School of Ballet and Dancing was established in 2001 by Michael Ustinov, Buddhapriya Ramanayake and Mrs Chandi Aluvihare, with Mrs Galina Pleshakova as its founding instructor. Today the School is led by Director Madam Maria Popova, Counsellor of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Sri Lanka.

News

Buddhist hierarchy demands prison perks for monk convicts

Published

19 hours ago

2026/10/18

Thilina Walpola

MONETABRIEF– Sri Lanka’s two most senior Buddhist chapters, Malwatte and Asgiriya, demanded special concessions for monks serving prison sentences, following the disrobing of convicted monk Ven. Galagodaatte Gnanasara in line with established procedures.

The chief prelate of the Asgiriya chapter, Most Venerable Warakagoda Sri Gnanarathana, told Prisons Commissioner Senaka Palletenna that Ven. Gnanasara, who is serving a six-year sentence for contempt of court, must be released immediately.

Prison authorities have no power to release or pardon convicts, but Palletenna told the monk in Kandy on Friday that he would convey his request to the relevant government authorities.

“There is no point in talking about this and that… The entire country has been shaken (??????? ) . He must be released,” the Asgiriya chief prelate said.

The Malwatte chief prelate, Most Venerable Thibbatuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala, appeared to accept the court verdict against Ven. Gnanasara, but asked the prisons chief whether a separate section could be established for convicted monks.

Palletenna noted that a special ward for the clergy already existed at Welikada Prison.

At least 63 convicted Buddhist monks are currently incarcerated within Sri Lanka’s criminal justice system.

Meanwhile, a group of 34 Buddhist monks named in a Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court order to vacate the vicinity of the Presidential Secretariat ended their protest and dispersed after lunch on Friday.The monks are demanding an unconditional pardon for Ven. Gnanasara, who has previously been imprisoned, making him a reconvicted prisoner.

News

Debate on NCM against Speaker postponed indefinitely

Published

19 hours ago

2026/10/18

Thilina Walpola

The debate on the no-confidence motion against Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne, submitted by the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), has been postponed indefinitely pending the Attorney General’s opinion on certain technical issues in the motion.

Government representatives raised the matter at a meeting of the Committee on Parliamentary Business, pointing out that several provisions of the motion required clarification and that the Attorney General’s advice should be obtained.

As obtaining the opinion would take time, the debate could not be scheduled for the next parliamentary week, parliamentary sources said.

Chief Opposition Whip Gayantha Karunatilaka said a date for the debate would be decided after the Attorney General’s advice was received.

Meanwhile, Parliament is scheduled to meet from October 20 to 23, Secretary General of Parliament Kushani Rohanadeera announced.

The parliamentary business for the week was finalised at a meeting of the Committee on Parliamentary Business held on Friday (16) under the chairmanship of Deputy Speaker Dr. Rizvie Salih.

On each sitting day, the period from 9.30 a.m. to 10 a.m. will be allocated for parliamentary business under Items 1 to 6 of Standing Order 22. Questions for Oral Answers will be taken up from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., followed by questions under Standing Order 27(2) from 11 a.m. to 11.30 a.m.

On Tuesday, October 20, an Opposition-sponsored Adjournment Motion will be debated from 11.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m.

On Wednesday, October 21, a resolution under the Public Debt Management Act and a Supplementary Estimate will be taken up for debate and approval from 11.30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The annual reports of five statutory institutions will subsequently be presented for approval without debate, while questions at the Adjournment Time will be taken up from 5 p.m. to 5.30 p.m.

On Thursday, October 22, the Second Reading debates on two Bills to amend the Poisons, Opium and Dangerous Drugs Ordinance (Bills Nos. 79 and 80) will be held from 11.30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The annual reports of five statutory institutions will then be taken up for approval without debate, followed by an Opposition-sponsored Adjournment Motion from 5 p.m. to 5.30 p.m.

On Friday, October 23, the Second Reading debate on the Elimination of Rabies and Registration of Dogs Bill will be held from 11.30 a.m. to 5 p.m. A Government-sponsored Adjournment Motion will be debated during the final half-hour of the sitting.