The Commissioner General of Elections, Saman Sri Ratnayake, has emphasized the need for stringent regulation of election finances, warning against the commercialization of the democratic process.
Speaking at a conference held in Colombo yesterday (17), Mr. Ratnayake asserted that the choice of the country’s leadership should not be influenced by financial transactions.
He stressed the importance of ensuring that voters remain participants in the democratic process rather than being reduced to mere consumers during elections.
The Elections Commissioner General also expressed concerns that the expected outcomes from the laws regulating election expenses have not been fully realized as anticipated by the Election Commission.
“You can’t hold an election without money, but you also can’t use money to turn voters into customers,” Mr. Ratnayake stated.
“If voters are swayed by financial incentives, it undermines the integrity of the electoral process, which is why certain restrictions are essential,” he added.
In related developments, the Election Commission reported that it has received 519 complaints related to the upcoming presidential election.
