The Election Commission has published detailed reports of expenses incurred by candidates during the recent presidential election, shedding light on campaign financing.
Sajith Premadasa, the presidential candidate from the Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB), topped the spending list with expenditures exceeding Rs. 1.12 billion. His personal expenses amounted to Rs. 936,258,524.60, while the SJB contributed Rs. 194,087,715.04 to his campaign.
Independent candidate Ranil Wickramasinghe ranked as the second-highest spender, with total expenses of Rs. 990,327,687.16, making him the highest spender among independent candidates.
Is n contrast, the recently elected president Anura Kumara Dissanayake of the National People’s Party (NPP) reported no personal campaign expenses, with the party covering Rs. 527,999,889.38 in election-related costs. Similarly, Namal Rajapaksa of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), who placed fourth, did not use personal funds; his party spent Rs. 388,939,085.00 on his campaign.
Entrepreneur Dilith Jayaweera, representing the Communist Party of Sri Lanka, personally funded Rs. 324,643,246.05 for his campaign, with no financial support from his party.
Under the Regulation of Election Expenditure Act, candidates were required to submit their expenditure reports. The Gazette mandated a maximum allowable spending limit of Rs. 109 per voter, translating to a total permissible expenditure of Rs. 1,868,298,586 for each candidate.
Out of the 38 candidates who contested the election, 35 have submitted their expense reports, which are available for public viewing at the Election Commission office in Rajagiriya and all district secretariats.
