The cash-strapped government may need to allocate an additional Rs.11 billion if a snap parliamentary election is called before the scheduled Presidential Election, according to sources revealed to Daily Mirror.
This allocation would come on top of the over Rs.10 billion already earmarked in the 2024 budget for the Presidential Election, as confirmed by a spokesman for the Election Commission.
The current budget did not allocate funds for a General Election, given that it is not slated for this year. However, President Ranil Wickremesinghe retains the authority to dissolve Parliament and call for a snap general election. In such a scenario, he has the power to allocate funds from the Consolidated Fund to facilitate the election process.
Per the Constitution, the President can dissolve Parliament and set a date for a general election. If Parliament hasn’t previously provided for such expenditure, the President can authorize allocations from the Consolidated Fund after consulting with the election authorities.
Presently, the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), which offers parliamentary support to the President’s government, advocates for a general election. Conversely, the United National Party (UNP), led by the President, cautions against it, deeming it imprudent.
Source – dailymirror.lk
