Acting IGP orders investigation into over 1,000 candidates for election spending violations

Thursday, 9 January 2025 01:42 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) yesterday ordered an investigation into 1,042 candidates and 197 party Secretaries and independent group leaders who failed to declare campaign financing for the 2024 General Election.

Under the Election Expenditure Regulation Act, No. 03 of 2023, all political parties, independent groups, or candidates are required to submit their income and expenditure reports to the District Returning Officers within 21 days of the election results being announced.

Accordingly, Acting IGP Priyantha Weerasooriya has instructed Police Divisions in the relevant electoral districts to begin investigations, whilst ordering all Senior DIGs, DIGs, and Divisional Officers to prepare reports on these investigations and submit them to the Attorney General for legal advice by 31 January.

On 7 January, the Election Commission directed the District Election Offices to finalise the files of the candidates who failed to submit their campaign financing reports related to the 2024 General Election and promptly forward them to the Police for legal action.

It added that despite a grace period for campaign financing declaration, several candidates did not submit their reports even after the deadline elapsed.