The Election Commission will enforce laws governing campaign finance at the upcoming presidential election, its Chairman R. M. A. L. Ratnayake said yesterday.
“We are studying some guidelines. The amounts (ceiling) will be agreed upon after discussions with political parties fielding candidates,” he told the Sunday Times. That would be done within five days after the Commission announces the date for nominations, he said.
Mr. Ratnayake said that the Election Commission has carried out many training programmes for the staff to enforce existing laws about campaign financing. The task will incorporate the Police, Inland Revenue Department, the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery and Corruption, and the Attorney General’s Department. “At present, district-level staff are being trained,” he declared.
“Political parties and local election monitoring groups have also been acquainted about procedures we will follow,” the elections chief said.
At the end of the election, a candidate is required to provide a detailed breakdown of expenses. Mr. Ratnayake said there was a drawback to putting up cutouts, posters and billboards which are illegal. “We will apply the law wherever it is required,” he said.
Source Sunday Times
