• Candidates and party secretaries seek withdrawal of court cases
• EC says legal action already underway across districts
• Campaign finance law leaves no room for amnesty or intervention  

Several political party secretaries and election candidates who are facing legal action for failing to submit campaign finance reports on time have requested that their cases be withdrawn, or a general amnesty be granted, Election Commission (EC) Chairperson R M A L Rathnayake said.

Speaking to The Daily Morning yesterday (22), he said that court cases have already been filed in almost every District against Presidential, Parliamentary, and Local Government (LG) election candidates and political parties that failed to submit their campaign finance reports within the stipulated period under the Regulation of Election Expenditure Act, No. 03 of 2023.

"Those cases are currently being heard in the respective Districts. Political party secretaries are still involved in those legal proceedings. Some have asked us to withdraw the cases because they have to travel to places such as Galle, Batticaloa, and Trincomalee to attend courts. Another person even requested a general amnesty. However, we cannot do that because these matters are governed by the law," he said.

Rathnayake explained, however, that the EC's authority is limited to taking action against candidates, political parties, or independent groups that fail to submit their expenditure reports by the prescribed deadline. "We can only institute legal action against those who fail to submit reports on time. We have already taken those steps. We cannot act on deficiencies or inaccuracies contained in the reports. Under the law, only members of the public can examine those reports and initiate legal action if they identify issues."

Under this Act, all recognised political parties, independent groups, and candidates contesting Presidential, Parliamentary, Provincial Council, and LG Elections are required to submit detailed campaign expenditure reports, including information on sources of funding, within 21 days of the conclusion of an Election.