Commissioner General of Elections Saman Sri Ratnayake has warned that any presidential candidate found by the courts to have exceeded the legally permitted spending limit per voter will face severe consequences, including disqualification from office and the loss of civil rights for three years.
Speaking at an event in Kandy, Mr. Ratnayake addressed questions about the enforcement of election expenditure regulations, noting that these rules are outlined in Gazette No. 03 of 2023.
He also reminded attendees that since 1947, candidates have been required to submit asset and liability statements within 31 days of the election’s conclusion. Failure to comply or submitting false information is a punishable offense, with historical instances of individuals losing their positions and civil rights over such violations.
Under a newly enacted law, candidates must submit detailed reports of their income and expenditures to the Election Commission within 21 days of the election. Mr. Ratnayake noted that these reports will be made publicly available through newspaper advertisements and websites.
He further emphasized that if discrepancies or inaccuracies are found in these reports, the public has the legal right to file complaints with the police and initiate court proceedings against offenders.
