• New Campaign Finance Act now in effect  
• Ceiling on campaign financing to be decided in consultation with candidates   

By Kelum Bandara

Presidential candidates will be barred from lavish spending for the September 21 Presidential Election because the Elections Commission is slated to introduce a ceiling on their campaign spending on each voter, according to a new law enacted this time, an official said.

The current Presidential Election is the first to be conducted under the newly introduced Campaign Finance Act.
According to an official from the Elections Commission, the amount of money a candidate can spend will be determined in consultations with all contestants after acceptance of nomination on August 15, 2024.  

“We might meet immediately after the nomination day and decide on the amount. It is a figure to be calculated after taking stock of current price rates. It is an amount which will be accepted by all the candidates. We will consult all of them,” he said.

The official said it would be an amount determined in respect of each vote.

When the local authorities’ election was announced last year, it was decided at Rs.20 per voter. The local election was not, however, conducted.

“As far as the Presidential Election is concerned, it will be higher,” he said.  

The Commission has also worked out campaign financing guidelines this time for candidates.
The presidential poll will be conducted on September 21.