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