Final Report

FINAL REPORT Estimated Election Campaign Costs Monitoring Initiative Parliamentary Election 2020, Sri Lanka Report on Campaign Cost Monitoring Initiative – Parliamentary Election 2020, Sri Lanka Contents Contents ...................................................................................................................................................................... 1 Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................................................. 4 Acronyms and Abbreviations .............................................................................................................................. 5 Chapter 1: Introduction.......................................................................................................................................... 6 Background ............................................................................................................................................................ 6 Key Issues ............................................................................................................................................................... 6 Main Objectives.................................................................................................................................................... 6 Chapter 2: Methodology ....................................................................................................................................... 7 Scope of the Concept - Election Expenses ................................................................................................ 7 Rationale for CMEV’s Engagement in CF Monitoring ............................................................................ 8 Technical Approach ............................................................................................................................................ 9 Cost Calculation Method .................................................................................................................................. 9 Limitations ........................................................................................................................................................... 10 Detail Scope of the Campaign Finance Monitoring ............................................................................ 11 Time Duration of CF Monitoring ................................................................................................................ 14 Data Collection Mechanism .......................................................................................................................... 14 Data Verification ............................................................................................................................................... 17 Detail Limitations .............................................................................................................................................. 17 Limited possibility of monitoring the Campaign Cost ....................................................................... 18 Chapter 3: Key Findings ...................................................................................................................................... 19 Gradual Increase of Estimated Election Campaign Cost in the Parliamentary Election Campaign ............................................................................................................................................................ 20 Final Disclosure: Estimated Campaign Costs - Key Highlights ........................................................ 25 Extensive use of Electronic and Printed Media ..................................................................................... 31 How to Control Campaign Finances ......................................................................................................... 32 Resolute Effort of CMEV in Advocating for a Campaign Finance Legislation ................................ 33 Chapter 4: Global Perspectives on Campaign Finance ...................................................................... 34 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................ 34 Country Level Brief Situation Analysis of CF........................................................................................... 35 Chapter 5: Recommendations .......................................................................................................................... 41 1 Report on Campaign Cost Monitoring Initiative – Parliamentary Election 2020, Sri Lanka To the Government .................................................................................................................................. 41 To the Election Commission ................................................................................................................. 41 To Political Parties .................................................................................................................................... 42 To Media Actors ......................................................................................................................................... 42 To Civil Society Organizations ............................................................................................................ 42 Annexures ................................................................................................................................................................ 43 Annexure 01 – Print Media Monitoring Format ............................................................................... 43 Annexure 02 – Electronic Media Monitoring Format ..................................................................... 43 Annexure 03 – Social Media Monitoring Format (Facebook) ..................................................... 43 Annexure 04 – Other Costs – Ground Campaign Format ............................................................. 44 Annexure 05 – List of News Papers ....................................................................................................... 45 Annexure 06 – List of Television Channels ......................................................................................... 46 Annexure 07 – List of Radio Channels.................................................................................................. 46 Annexure 08 – List of Members of the previous legislature/executive who contested the Parliamentary Election 2020. ................................................................................................................... 47 2 Report on Campaign Cost Monitoring Initiative – Parliamentary Election 2020, Sri Lanka The Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) is an election observation organization that contributes to both the election monitoring process and the electoral reform process of this country. CMEV was formed in 1997 jointly by the Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA), the Free Media Movement (FMM), and the INFORM Human Rights Documentation Centre. One of CMEV’s starting core objectives was to maintain an updated database of election violations. This objective has now expanded to include the observation of estimated election campaign costs of political parties, independent groups and candidates contesting elections. Written and Edited By: Manjula Gajanayake, National Coordinator, CMEV Published By: Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) Campaign Costs Monitoring Initiative – Parliamentary Election 2020, Sri Lanka Copyright © CMEV, 2020 3 Report on Campaign Cost Monitoring Initiative – Parliamentary Election 2020, Sri Lanka Acknowledgements The Campaign Finance Monitoring Unit of CMEV was set up with the mandate of observing the estimated election campaign costs on the 2020 Parliamentary Election campaign. This is the second time in Sri Lankan election observation history that the campaign costs of different political parties, candidates and their supporters were monitored by an election monitoring institution. The Campaign Finance Monitoring Unit of the CMEV would like to thank: the civil society organizations who shared their expertise in their respective filed to assist and contributed towards the monitoring process and reporting. all the electronic and print media institutions for their corporation in providing the necessary information which was pivotal in making this monitoring initiative a success. all stakeholders involved in the 2020 Parliamentary campaign, especially all the political parties and candidates, for their cooperation towards this initiative. all CMEV field observers and other staff members for their tireless effort to make this first ever election campaign costs monitoring initiative a success in the history of election monitoring in Sri Lanka. the Chairman of the Election Commission of Sri Lanka, Commissioner General of Elections, its member Commissioners and all Additional/Deputy and Assistant Election Commissioners at district level for their tremendous support and cooperation. the Sri Lanka Police led by the Inspector General of Police and the Election Section of the Police for their efforts to ensure a free and fair election. 4 Report on Campaign Cost Monitoring Initiative – Parliamentary Election 2020, Sri Lanka Acronyms and Abbreviations CMEV Centre for Monitoring Election Violence CPA Centre

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