SLPP biggest spender and polls law violator at election

By PRIYAN DE SILVA

National Coordinator of the Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV)

Manjula Gajanayake yesterday said that the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) was the biggest spender on electioneering at the 2020 general election and was also responsible for the most number of election law violations.

According to the CMEV, the SLPP spent approximately Rs. 1,076 million on its campaign: Rs. 54 million was spent on print media advertising, Rs. 490 million on electronic media, Rs. 26 million on social media, and other campaign costs amounted to Rs. 106 million. The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) spent Rs. 611 million on their campaign; Rs. 21 million was spent on print media advertising, Rs. 380 million on electronic media, Rs. 18 million on social media and Rs. 191 million rupees for other costs.

The UNP was the third biggest spender. It spent Rs. 297 million on its election campaign and the National People’s Power (NPP) Rs. 123 million.

According to the CMEV the SLPP was responsible for 161 incidents of election- related violations and the SJB for 40. Public Officials and the Police were responsible for 44 incidents.