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IRES: Cabinet halves fund allocation for presidential and general elections

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by PRIYAN DE SILVA

The Cabinet-of-Ministers is used by President Ranil Wickremesinghe as a cat’s paw to postpone elections, says Executive Director of the Institute for Democratic Reforms and Electoral Studies (IRES) Manjula Gajanayake.

A decision made by the Cabinet about elections, on 05 Feb., was detrimental to democracy, Gajanayake said. A statement issued by the Media Ministry about the Cabinet decision at issue, the following day, read: “The Cabinet-of-Ministers considered that an allocation of Rs. 10 billion has been made by the Budget estimate for the year 2024, within the financial stamina of the government and those provisions have to be managed for covering the expenditure of the presidential election and general election. Furthermore, it was observed by the Cabinet-of-Ministers that funds required for conducting provincial council elections and local government elections should be released from the Budget for the year 2025 owing to the limited financial situation. However, subsequent to conducting those two elections in the year 2025, the Cabinet-of-Ministers took into account that the revisions for the applicable election laws should be introduced subject to amendments of the Parliament, if required, based on the scheduled recommendations to be presented by the commission appointed to ‘Examine all existing election laws and regulations and make necessary recommendations for the amendment of election laws to suit current needs’  established under Section 2 of the Commissions of Inquiry Act No. 17 of 1948 (Chapter 393) by the extraordinary gazette notification No. 2354/06 dated 16.10.2023.  The Cabinet-of-Ministers decided to grant their concurrence to take necessary actions based on those facts furnished by the Hon. President.

The IRES Executive Director stressed that the Cabinet had no right to halve the fund allocations for elections because Parliament had approved Rs. 10 billion for the 2024 presidential election.

Commissioner General of Election Saman Sri Ratnayake told The Island that the Election Commission had estimated the cost of conducting the presidential election and the parliamentary election at Rs. 10 billion and Rs. 11 billion, respectively, and that the two estimates had been submitted to the government in August/September 2023.

The IRES Executive Director reiterated that the curtailment of the fund allocations for presidential and general elections by half would hamper the electoral process. As a result, election awareness campaigns on voting rights and campaign finance regulation, Election Dispute Resolution (EDR), and even security, might have to be scaled down.

Last year, the Secretary to the Ministry of Finance did not release funds for the Local Government at the behest of President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who is also the Minister of Finance.

Gajanayake pointed out that according to the Sinhala copy of the Cabinet meeting minutes, the Provincial Council and Local Government elections will be held only after the report of the Presidential Committee appointed by the Gazette Extraordinary No. 2354/06 dated 16.10.2023 is received, nobody knew when the elections would be held.



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Stand united with renewed confidence and determination, and to join in the shared task of shaping a new era of national renewal – PM

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Prime Minister Dr Harini Amarasuriya in her Indepencence Day message invited all Sri Lankans to stand united with renewed confidence and determination, and to join in the shared task of shaping a new era of national renewal.

The full text of the PM’s message:

The 78th National Independence Day is marked with renewed hope for freedom. We have now entered a new chapter with a people’s government formed through the collective will and effort of all citizens.

The Government has begun the task of building a nation for future generations, grounded in human values, strengthened by skills, and enriched by intellectual capacity. The time has come for every citizen to fulfill their responsibility to the motherland by contributing meaningfully to the building of a nation rooted in shared values.

We remain committed to achieving national priorities, including stabilizing the country on a strong economic foundation; advancing a new political vision that transforms political practice and redefines the role of the politician through a renewed political culture; guiding society with equality, dignity, and compassion; and addressing persistent rural poverty.

The Government is also focused on strengthening welfare mechanisms to ensure access for vulnerable social groups so that no one is left behind; advancing the digital transformation of the economy through modern science and technology; and presenting Sri Lanka to the international community as a nation guided by a non-aligned foreign policy, enabling engagement based on trust with all countries and peoples.

This is a time for all of us to work together, setting aside narrow political interests in the pursuit of national progress. As we mark the 78th National Independence Day, I invite all Sri Lankans to stand united with renewed confidence and determination, and to join in the shared task of shaping a new era of national renewal.

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Members of the National Student Parliament meet PM

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Members of the National Student Parliament met Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya on Monday [02nd of February] at Temple Trees.

The representatives of the National Student Parliament, representing schools from across the island, visited the Temple Trees following their visit to the Presidential Secretariat and the Parliament.

Expressing her views on the occasion, Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated,

“The new education reforms were recently initiated starting from Grade One. Discussions are currently underway to include students entering Grade Six this year into the new education reform process in the future. The education reforms will not be halted, and the government is committed to implementing them in a systematic manner without shortcomings”.

She further noted that the reforms are being carried out under five main pillars, with the government’s key objective being to reduce disparities and provide children with quality education, while also nurturing a socially responsible community enriched with human values such as compassion, love for the environment, and a strong sense of civic responsibility.

The occasion was attended by the Deputy Director of Education Kasun Gunarathne, along with officials from the Ministry of Education and representatives of the National Student Parliament.

[Prime Minister’s Media Division]

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Mrs. I.J. Aberathne appointed Director General of the Department of Trade and Investment Policy

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The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the resolution presented by the President, in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development, to appoint Mrs. I.J. Aberathne to the post of Director General of the Department of Trade and Investment Policy with immediate effect.

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