Regulation of Elections Expenditure Bill to be taken up on 5th

The Regulation of Elections Expenditure Bill under which the Election Commission is to be vested with the right to decide on a maximum authorized amount which a candidate contesting any election could spend for his campaign is to be taken up for debate in Parliament on Thursday January 5, 2023, Parliament Media Unit said.

The Bill which was presented to the House by Minister of Justice Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe last month provides provisions for the Commission of Elections to decide on an authorized amount for a Presidential election, Parliamentary elections, Local |Government election and a Provincial Council election after conferring with political parties.

A candidate contesting for any election is prevented from accepting funds or any other assistance from a government institution, from foreign governments and local registered private companies for his campaign under the legislation.

This law was initially proposed by the select committee on electoral reforms headed by the incumbent Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena some years ago. (Yohan Perera and Ajith Siriwardana)