• If Parliament is dissolved before funds are allocated, would-be-president will need to do so from consolidated fund; EC Chair

The Election Commission (EC) stated yesterday (26) that if a Parliamentary Election is to be held this year (2024), the would-be President will need to allocate funds from the Consolidated Fund, as current funds have only been allocated for the Presidential Election.

This, in the wake of speculation among a number of politicians that the Parliamentary Election, which is due to be held next year (2025), might be scheduled soon after the Presidential Election this year.

Responding to a question about whether the funds allocated thus far would suffice to hold an unscheduled Parliamentary Election this year, EC Chairperson R.M.A.L. Ratnayake clarified that the Rs. 10 billion allocated for election purposes this year is intended solely for the Presidential Election. 

"When and if the Parliament is dissolved, it cannot allocate monetary provisions. If the Parliament is dissolved following the Presidential Election, the would-be President will need to allocate funds from the Consolidated Fund to hold the Parliamentary Election. The currently allocated Rs. 10 billion is only sufficient for the Presidential Election."

Despite speculations about the Parliamentary Election preceding the Presidential Election this year, President and National Policies Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe informed the Cabinet of Ministers last week that the Presidential Election would be held first. According to relevant legal provisions, the Presidential Election will be held between September and October this year, with the Parliamentary Election scheduled for next year.

Speaking to The Daily Morning on an earlier occasion, ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna General Secretary and Government MP Sagara Kariyawasam, expressed the view that the Parliamentary Election should be held first. He argued that if the Presidential Election is held first, the winning candidate's popularity might influence voters to favour their party in the Parliamentary Election, irrespective of other parties' policies. However, he said that holding the Parliamentary Election first would prompt voters to consider each party's policies more carefully before casting their votes.