Candidates declaring LG Polls election expenses at an exceptionally pleasing rate – EC

Colombo, June 5 (Daily Mirror) - Declaring campaign finances of the contestants of the recently concluded Local Government polls 2025 is at an exceptionally pleasing rate where over 66, 000 out of 75, 500 candidates have submitted their election expenses thus far, a senior election commission official said.

The Election Commission of Sri Lanka through a public notice stated yesterday that as per the Section 7 of the Election Expenditure Act No.3 of 2023, the certified copies of the election expense reports handed over to the relevant Returning Officers by the candidates, political party secretaries and independent group leaders will be make available for the public at each District Election office from June 7.

These reports will be made available to inspect or lodge complaints against from 9.00am to 4.00pm on every weekday from 07 /06 /2025 onwards.

When contacted, Commissioner General of Elections Saman Sri Ratnayake told the Daily Mirror the declaration of election expenses countrywide as a whole is exceptionally pleasing. He said only about 2, 000 such documents are to be received from countrywide candidates in addition to the reports of Colombo and Gampaha districts, which are being sorted by the respective Returning Officers.

He said the reports of the remaining two districts will also be made available from the mentioned date and it is satisfactory how a majority of candidates have adhered to the law.

Asked what had prompted the LG polls candidates to handover their campaign finances on time compared to those who were at the last General Elections, the Commissioner General said the constant awareness made on the matter had been a successful factor.