• EC says its duties concluded following publication of expense reports

The Election Commission (EC) announced that their role in the regulation of Presidential candidates' campaign expenditure concluded with the public exhibition of the related reports, and that any concerns or irregularities should be reported to the Police by the relevant parties.

Under the Regulation of Election Expenditure Act, No. 3 of 2023, all Presidential candidates were supposed to submit reports detailing their campaign expenditure, including the sources of funds, to the EC, by 12 midnight on 13 October. Following the submission, they were made available for public viewing at the EC and District Secretariat premises.

When queried by The Daily Morning regarding the next course of action regarding the matter, EC Chairperson R.M.A.L. Rathnayake said that the next course of action lies with the public and the Police. "What we do is exhibit the reports submitted by the candidates. If there is any issue, the public should complain to the Police. They (Police) will investigate any such issues and initiate the necessary action."

He also said that the Police will also investigate any issue pertaining to expenditure by Presidential candidates during their Election campaigns only if and when a complaint is lodged. "We have informed the Police of the candidates who didn't submit their reports on time. We don't have any other authority. When the relevant reports are made available for public viewing, our role ends."

As per the EC, a total of 35 out of the 38 Presidential candidates had submitted the relevant reports within the relevant time period.  

Section 4(2) of the Regulation of Election Expenditure Act holds that any candidate commits an offence of an illegal practice if he/she has incurred expenditure in excess of the authorised amount in respect of such Election unless they prove that such spending was done without his/her sanction or connivance. Certain expenditure is deemed an illegal practice per Section 82 of the Presidential Elections Act, No. 15 of 1981 as amended.