Election observers launch ‘Chanda Salli Meetare’

 

Shabeer Mohamed

‘Chanda Salli Meetare’ is designed to provide voters with critical information to make informed decisions, ensure fairness among candidates and promote a transparent electoral process. It supports the implementation of the Regulation of Election Expenditure Act and aims to enhance transparency and accountability in Sri Lankan elections.

The tool’s website, http://chandasallimeetare.lk, provides profiles of presidential candidates detailing their campaign expenditures. These expenditures are categorised into various areas such as media, social media, billboards, public events and campaign offices. The site also includes candidates’ asset declarations and election manifestos where available.

Campaign expenditure will be monitored using set cost formulas for each category. Election observers and citizen inputs will contribute to accurate data collection and monitoring.

Addressing the event, Election Commissioner General Saman Sri Ratnayake emphasised the tool’s role in addressing issues related to money in politics and expressed optimism for fair and transparent elections.

Rohana Hettiarachchi, Executive Director of PAFFREL, advocated for limits on campaign spending to ensure fair representation and criticised excessive spending by candidates.

Dr. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu, Executive Director of the Centre for Policy Alternatives, stressed that the tool aims to prevent the commodification of democracy rather than restricting freedoms.

Manas Makeen, Executive Director of CaFFE highlighted the unprecedented collaboration among monitoring organisations to oversee campaign finances across all electorates.

Darshatha Gamage from Hashtag Generation encouraged citizens to actively engage with the tool and report campaign activities in their areas.

Furthermore, the election monitoring organisations requested citizens to contribute by submitting information on campaign activities through the website. They also urge presidential candidates to comply with campaign expenditure regulations.

The ‘Chanda Salli Meetare’ tool, initially focused on the Presidential Election will be adapted for future elections to continue promoting transparency and accountability in Sri Lankan electoral processes, the election monitoring organisasions said.