Parties and Candidates

Sri Lanka

PC001

Question:	What are the registration requirements for political parties running for national elections (Chamber 1)?
Answer(s):	b. Deposit requirement (specify amount)
Comments:	After the proclamation of the elections, every recognized political party intending to contest an election shall, within seven days, notify the Commissioner of its intention to so contest in writing and the Commissioner should assign an approved symbol for such political party. A group leader of an independent group has to make a deposit of a sum of Rupees 2000/= at the time of submitting the nomination paper and this deposit is forfeiter if the independent group does not poll more than 1\8 th of the total polled at the particular election.
Source:	Official Website of the Parliament: http://www.parliament.lk/about_us/nomination_requirements.jsp (2012); Parliament Elections Act of 1981, Art. 11, 16
Verified:	2016/02/04

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PC003

Question:	What are the legal qualifications to become a candidate at legislative elections (Chamber 1)?
Answer(s):	a. Age b. Citizenship d. Residence
Comments:	a) 18 years; d) Ordinary residence at the relevant address on the operative date, and the name entered in the appropriate register of electors.
Source:	Constitution, Art. 88, 89, 90, 91: http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/asia/LK/sri-lanka-constitution-as-amended-up-to-9/at_download/file
Verified:	2016/02/04

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PC008

Question:	Can independent candidates compete in presidential or legislative elections?
Answer(s):	e. In both presidential and legislative elections
Comments:	Any recognized political party or any group of persons contesting as independent candidates...
Source:	Constitution, Art. 99 (3): http://aceproject.org/ero-en/regions/asia/LK/sri-lanka-constitution-as-amended-up-to-9/at_download/file
Verified:	2016/02/04

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PC012

Question:	Do political parties receive direct/indirect public funding?
Answer(s):	b. Direct c. Indirect
Comments:	The 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. The election law provides for two of the state broadcasters to allocate airtime to political parties. The time-slots outlined are 30, 60 and 90 minutes over the campaign period, depending on the party's number of candidates
Source:	Final Report of the EU Observation Mission to Sri Lanka's August 17 2015 Parliamentary Elections
Verified:	2016/02/04

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PC015

Question:	What is the basis of the public funding?
Answer(s):	a. Equal funding, regardless of size and previous performance b. Based on result of previous election
Comments:	a) Applies to free broadcast time; b) The grant shall be paid to any recognized political party in respect of an electoral district, if the party; - has polled not less than one percent of the total number of valid votes at the previous General Elections; and - has submitted a nomination paper in respect of that district at the General Eleciton in respect of which such grant is payable.
Source:	Parliamentary Election Act (No.1 1981), Art. 127(3), 126
Verified:	2016/02/04

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PC017

Question:	Are political parties entitled to private funding?
Answer:	a. Yes
Comments:
Source:	Parliamentary Election Act (No.1 1981)
Verified:	2016/02/04

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