Parliament passes Regulation of Election Expenditure Bill

The Regulation of Election Expenditure Bill was passed in Parliament this evening with amendments with a majority of 61 votes.

The bill received 97 votes favour and 36 against.  

The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) and National People's Power (NPP) were among opposition parties that voted against the bill.

Both Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa and NPP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake had criticised the decision to debate the bill at a time when the Election Commission (EC) has initiated steps to hold the local government election and when nominations are being accepted for the election. 

Many opposition MPs had argued that if the bill is adopted now, it would make it virtually impossible for the EC to hold the upcoming local government polls on schedule.

As such, the opposition sought to introduce an amendment to the bill stating that the provisions of the Act shall not apply to elections proclaimed before the enactment of the Act. However, the government rejected the amendment.