By Rathindra Kuruwita

The Election Commission (EC) yesterday announced the spending limits for candidates and political parties contesting the upcoming general election on 14 November.

The EC has said a candidate running for the Colombo District can spend up to Rs 5,750,000. A political party is permitted to spend Rs 79,493,756, while a national list candidate can allocate Rs. 34,698 rupees.

In the Gampaha District, a candidate may spend Rs. 5,643,387 , while a political party can spend 81,735,055 rupees, and a national list candidate 35,677 rupees.

Candidates in the Kalutara District have a spending limit of 4,140,787 rupees, political parties can spend 43,694,249 rupees, and national list candidates can allocate 19,072 rupees.

For the Kandy District, candidates are allowed to spend Rs. 5,146,444 each political parties Rs 50,825,081 each, and national list candidates Rs 22,185 each.

A candidate contesting from the Matale District can spend 3,450,678 rupees, political parties 18,173,570 rupees, and national list candidates 7,933 rupees.

In Nuwara Eliya District, the spending limits are 3,631,752 rupees for candidates, 26,299,937 rupees for political parties, and 11,480 rupees for national list candidates.

Candidates for the Galle District can spend Rs 4,922,238 each, political parties Rs 38,885,683 each and national list candidates Rs 16,973 each.

In Matara District, candidates can spend 4,487,585 rupees, political parties 29,543,265 rupees, and national list candidates 12,895 rupees.

Candidates in the Hambantota District are permitted to spend 3,469,460 rupees each, political parties 22,840,614 rupees each, and national list candidates 9,970 rupees each.

For the Jaffna District, the spending limits are 3,954,580 rupees for candidates, 23,430,887 rupees for political parties, and 10,227 rupees for national list candidates.

Candidates in the Vanni District can spend 1,673,243 rupees, political parties 9,913,964 rupees, and national list candidates 4,327 rupees.

In the Batticaloa District, candidates can spend 3,709,910 rupees, political parties 19,538,857 rupees, and national list candidates 8,529 rupees.

Candidates in the Digamadulla District can spend 3,765,829 rupees each, political parties 24,791,707 rupees each, and national list candidates 10,821 rupees each.

In the Trincomalee District, candidates are allowed to spend 3,114,118 rupees, political parties 14,350,893 rupees, and national list candidates 6,264 rupees.

Candidates in the Kurunegala District can spend 5,054,773 rupees each, political parties 59,899,057 rupees each, and national list candidates 26,145 rupees each.

In the Puttalam District, candidates can spend 3,945,838 rupees, political parties 28,574,441 rupees, and national list candidates 12,472 rupees.

For the Anuradhapura District, candidates are allowed to spend 4,080,241 rupees each, political parties 32,233,904 rupees each, and national list candidates 14,070 rupees each.

A candidate contesting from the Polonnaruwa District can spend 2,871,894 rupees, political parties 15,125,308 rupees, and a national list candidate 6,602 rupees.

In the Badulla District, candidates can spend 3,846,457 rupees, political parties 30,387,013 rupees, and national list candidates 13,264 rupees.

Candidates in the Moneragala District can spend 2,921,217 rupees each, political parties 17,343,763 rupees each, and national list candidates 7,570 rupees each.

In the Ratnapura District, candidates are permitted to spend 4,354,755 rupees each, political parties 40,136,329 rupees each, and national list candidates 17,519 rupees each.

Candidates contesting the Kegalle District are allowed to spend 3,831,959 rupees each, political parties 34,272,475 rupees each, and national list candidates 13,214 rupees each.

Commissioner General of Elections, Saman Sri Ratnayake, explained those limits were calculated based on several factors, including population size, population density, and land area. “A candidate is allowed to spend 60 per cent of the total amount, the party can allocate 39.5 per cent, while national list candidates can spend the remaining 0.5 per cent,” he clarified.

Ratnayake also announced that opinion polls will be banned during the parliamentary election period. “This is more of an ethical issue than a legal one. Most of these polls are not scientifically conducted, and they tend to influence public opinion,” he stated.