EU monitors call for regulating campaign finance
… express concern over abuse of State resources, low women’s
participation, restrictions on campaigning, National List appointments
by Dasun Edirisinghe-October 18, 2015, 12:00 pm
The European Union (EU) election observers have, in their final report on August 17 Parliamentary election, expressed their concern over lack of regulations governing party and campaign finances. They have pointed out the existing laws establish ‘no limits on contributions or spending, and there are no disclosure requirements.’
This situation has resulted in lack of transparency and accountability and stood in the way of creating a level playing field for candidates in electoral contests contrary to international standards for transparency of campaigning finances.
The EU observers have pointed out, quoting EU interlocutors that ‘election campaigning was very costly and some candidates allegedly spent Euro 500,000 each. Referring to a Transparency International, Sri Lanka report the observers say ‘some candidates spent even more than Rs. 300 million (2 million EUR) and, that average expenditure of a candidate from the main coalitions was around EUR 100,000.’
The reports says ‘th law provides for state financial assistance to registered political parties that have polled at least one per cent of the valid votes in an electoral district in the previous elections. However, this support is rather symbolic – SLR 0,5 per vote received. As candidates covered their own costs with little or no support from the party, only those with access to financial resources could afford to mount a high-profile campaign. Only the UNP- and SLFP-led coalitions were able to avail fully of the opportunity to set up offices in all villages, excluding areas with large Tamil populations. The JVP was the only party that also visibly campaigned in the majority Sinhala areas across the country. However, their candidates’ activities were much more low key."
While describing the August 17 polls as, ‘the most peaceful and most efficiently conducted election in the country’s recent history’ the observers have said the abuse of state resources for campaign purposes remained significant though there were fewer incidents compared to previous election. "Domestic observers reported that some 1,200 government officials ranging from executive-level officers to clerical staff were involved in campaigning. In addition there were reports of state vehicles and buildings being used to hold campaign activities, and numerous allegations of promotions and transfers of public officials."
The EU polls monitors have expressed their concern about the extremely low women’s participation in the electoral process. "The participation of women during the entire process was extremely low. While the main parties adopted a gender chapter in their manifestos including the promotion of women’s development and social welfare, fewer than 10 per cent of the candidates were women. Of 556 female candidates, only 13 entered parliament. Of these, 11 hail from influential political families with strong connections in their constituencies. According to the world classification index on women in parliament 2015, Sri Lanka ranks 131st out of 141 countries, with the lowest percentage of women in parliament in South Asia at 5.8 per cent, well below the world’s 22 per cent average and that of Asia at 19 per cent."
The EU observers are of the view that Sri Lanka’s media is divided along ethnic and linguistic line with outlets publishing and / or broadcasting in one or more of three languages: Sinhala, Tamil and English.
The observers have pointed out the private media landscape is characterised by a concentration of big groups, which impedes pluralism, and is heavily politicised.
The EU observers have frowned on the electoral law provisions on campaigning, which they consider ‘overly restrictive and thus not fully in line with international standards as they unduly limit freedom of campaigning’.
