Sri Lanka reserves Rs 10 billion to hold presidential, parliamentary polls

The cash-strapped Sri Lankan government has reserved Rs 10 billion for conducting the presidential and parliamentary elections. A Cabinet note regarding the two major elections underscores the lack of progress in organising the local council elections postponed since March of last year. “The Cabinet of Ministers considered that an allocation of Rs 10 billion has been made by the budget estimated for the year 2024, within the financial stamina of the government and those provisions have to be managed for covering the expenditure of the Presidential election and general election,” the Cabinet note released after Monday’s meeting read. The local election to appoint over 300 local councils was postponed as the government did not release the funds citing the economic crisis mitigation measures taken at the time. At least four court cases remain pending on the issue as the government reported to the court that it was unable to provide funds due to the economic crisis. The Opposition however accused President Ranil Wickremesinghe of postponing it for fear of losing. The next presidential election must be called by the elections commission by September and must be held by mid-November. The parliament election is not due before August of 2025 but President Wickremesinghe has the power to hold it anytime now by dissolving the 225-member Assembly elected in August 2020. With inputs from agencies