Only 23 % of candidates have so far submitted expense reports: EC

• All candidates must submit their income and expenditure reports by December 6

By Sheain Fernandopulle

Only 23% of the total candidates who contested the General Election have so far submitted their income and expenditure reports to the Election Commission.

According to the Commission, only 1,985 of the 8,361 candidates have so far submitted their expense reports.

Of the 527 members on the national list, only 57 have submitted expense reports.

The election watchdog has stressed that all candidates must submit their income and expenditure reports by December 6.

This includes the candidates on the National Lists, secretaries of the parties and the leaders of the independent groups.

“The failure to meet the deadline (December 06 at midnight) will constitute a breach of the Regulation of Election Expenditure Act, with violators facing legal consequences,” the Commission warned.

”These reports should be prepared separately for each district where candidates contested and submitted to the respective District Returning Officers,” the Commission added.