Regulation of Election Expenditure Act No 3 of 2023 put in place to scrutinize funding sources of political parties – MP Wajira Abeywardena

Chairman of the United National Party, Member of Parliament Wajira Abeywardena during a media briefing held at the Presidential Media Center (PMC) on Tuesday (16), said that the main purposes for President Ranil Wickremesinghe to get the Regulation of Election Expenditure Act No 3 of 2023 passed in Parliament early last year was to track and scrutinize  the funding sources of the 75 registered political parties in Sri Lanka.

He pointed out that after Sri Lanka gained independence,  it was these political parties that have contributed to the division and disunity within the country which has led to numerous challenges . “Sri Lanka probably is the only country in Asia or even in the whole world that has the most number of registered political parties” he quipped.

The UNP Chairman said that President Ranil Wickremesinghe has garnered global attention due to his efforts in steering the country from the brink of crisis to a path of development within a short span of one and a half years by effectively utilizing the foreign trips he made. The President was able to personally meet and garner the support of many heads of states during these visits.

Abeywardena said that it is the United National Party’s  manifesto that was rejected by the people in 2020 that is presently being implemented for the greater good of the country and suggested that all politicians in the country familiarize themselves with its contents.