Submit accounts or face termination: EC warns political parties

• Political parties have been notified to submit their statements of accounts on a number of occasions
• Certain political parties have failed to submit their statements

By Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya  

Failure to submit audited statements of accounts for the year 2021 within 14 days will result in the termination of the right to be treated as a recognized political party, the Election Commission informed political parties yesterday.  

Commissioner General of Elections Saman Ratnayake said that political parties have been notified to submit their statements of accounts on a number of occasions. However, certain political parties have failed to submit their statements of accounts.  

“We have decided to inform under registered cover the political parties that have not to date (2023-03-16) submitted their statements of accounts for the year 2021 to submit the same within 14 days from Thursday and to terminate the right to be treated as recognized political parties under Section 9(3) of the aforesaid Act, of the parties that fail to comply with the said order,” he said.  

The decision was taken when the members of the Election Commission met yesterday.  

Meanwhile, the Election Commission has decided to conduct a discussion on next Thursday (23) with the secretaries of recognized political parties that contest the 2023 local government election.