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Early elections: No funding allocated: EC

31 Jul 2022

  • Early polls only if P’ment passes resolution approved by Prez
By Skandha Gunasekara  With no funding allocated for a General Election, Parliament will have to decide on where such funding will be sourced from in order to hold an early election if such a decision is reached, The Sunday Morning learns. Election Commission (EC) Chairman Nimal Punchihewa told The Sunday Morning that no funds had been allocated via the 2022 Budget for a General Election, and that it would fall on the Parliament to do so.  “Parliament is responsible for overseeing the country’s finances. In this case as well, it will be Parliament that decides how a snap election will be funded,” Punchihewa told The Sunday Morning.  He noted that funding may have been allocated via the Budget for other elections. “The Budget may have allotted funds for the Provincial Council Elections – which are long overdue – but I must first look into how much has been allocated, if so.” However, he said that a Parliamentary Election was only possible on certain conditions according to the Constitution. “First, the President cannot call for elections now because the two-and-a-half-year preconditions have not been met. He can only call for elections next year.” He noted that Parliament could also pass a resolution as a way of holding premature General Elections. “Parliament can pass a resolution requesting that Parliamentary Elections be held early but that request must be accepted by the President for the elections to take place.”


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