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Major presidential candidates fail to submit campaign finance details

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None of the four leading presidential candidates—current President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, former President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Sajith Premadasa, and Namal Rajapaksa—had made their campaign expenditure declarations as of Friday, in keeping with the campaign finance laws.

The parties and candidates were due to submit election expenditure details relating to last month’s presidential election today. However, as of Friday, the Election Commission  noted that only 13 of the 38 candidates had filed their accounts under the Election Expenditure Act No. 3 of 2023. The EC on Friday listed out the names of these candidates.

The Election Expenditure Act holds that all parties and independent candidates must submit records of the donors to their campaign within 21 days of the election results being announced. In conjunction with this Act, which was implemented for the first time since its enactment, a gazette detailing the stipulations around these submissions was published in August.

Accordingly, each candidate was permitted to spend up to Rs. 109 per voter for campaign activities, amounting to a total of 1,868.3 million rupees ($6 million). This marked another first for Sri Lanka’s election law, as a verifiable expenditure limit has not been in place before.

The EC said the report should include an estimated cost of all donations and contributions accepted or received in cash or kind by such recognised or other political party or candidate, stating whether they are donations, loans, advances, or deposits, as well as the “name, address, national identity card number, tax number (TIN), or the registration number of the donor, contributor, or the institution, incorporated or non-incorporated.”

Expenditure on media promotions, from printed handbills and banners to advertisements and broadcast programs, must be included in the submission.

The expenses for all media activities—handbills, posters, banners, pictures, advertisements, propaganda notices, radio and television shows, news bulletins, magazines, periodicals, social media, digital exposes, and any other digital media or publications—as well as the fuel supply for vehicles, regardless of whether payments were made or not, should be included in this report.

The Election Expenditure Act also requires all political parties that participate in the presidential election to include the tax payment information of individuals and companies that are funding presidential candidates.

Submitted records will be available for public viewing within two weeks of the deadline today. The EC had also noted, before the election, that those who failed to meet the deadline provided with accurate and honest information would be subject to the penalties prescribed in the Election Expenditure Act.

(The Sunday Times)

(This story, originally published by The Sunday Times has not been edited by SLM staff)

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3 dead in Dunhinda bus accident 

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Three persons have died from the bus accident at Dunhinda in Badulla today (June 21), according to hospital sources.

A total of 34 individuals were injured when the bus toppled down a precipice this evening (June 21) at the 4th Mile Post area, near the Dunhinda bends on the Badulla–Mahiyanganaya road.

According to reports, the passengers were a group of pilgrims travelling from Badulla to Anuradhapura.

The injured persons have been admitted to the Badulla General Hospital. 

Police are conducting further investigations.

(Pic : Accident1st)

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11th International Day of Yoga celebrated in Colombo (Pics)

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The 11th International Day of Yoga (IDY) was celebrated with great enthusiasm by the High Commission of India in Colombo and its cultural arm, the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre (SVCC) in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government Sri Lanka at the historic Independence Square in Colombo today (June 21).

This year’s theme, “Yoga for One Earth, One Health”, highlighted the universal relevance of yoga in fostering harmony between humans and nature.

The High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka, H.E. Santosh Jha, joined the celebrations along with distinguished guests including Minister of Science and Technology – Dr. Chrishantha Abeysena, Minister of Labour and the Deputy Minister of Economic Development – Prof. Anil Jayantha Fernando, Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka – Dr. Rizvie Salih, Deputy Minister of Defence – Major General K. P. Aruna Jayasekara, Deputy Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs – Gamagedara Dissanayake Deputy Minister of Sports – Sugath Thilakaratna, and other senior dignitaries.
The event began with a spiritual invocation through prayers by Most Ven. Dr. Maitipe Wimalasara Nayaka Thera and the Maha Sangha, who offered blessings for peace and well-being. A dynamic and refreshing yoga and meditation session followed, conducted by experts from renowned yoga institutions in India and Sri Lanka. The event brought together hundreds of yoga enthusiasts, dignitaries, and students in a shared spirit of wellness and unity. As part of the celebrations, a specially curated Yoga Pendrive and a Sinhala translation of the Hatha Yoga Pradeepika were launched, aiming to make authentic yoga knowledge more accessible. Complementing the main event in Colombo, the Consulates in Hambantota and Jaffna, along with the Assistant High Commission in Kandy, also organized special events – reflecting the enthusiastic and widespread participation in the 11th International Day of Yoga across Sri Lanka.

In a significant prelude to the main event, the Department of Ayurveda, Ministry of Health, Government of Sri Lanka and Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre jointly organized a landmark, island-wide celebration of the International Day of Yoga on 19 June 2025, with simultaneous yoga sessions held in 113 Ayurveda hospitals and four universities across all nine provinces – marking the first time such a nationwide initiative has been undertaken in Sri Lanka in a unified fashion.
It may be recalled that the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution piloted by India in 2014, proclaiming June 21 each year as the International Day of Yoga. The resolution was supported by more than 170 countries, with Sri Lanka being one of its proud co-sponsors.

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Mathews bows out of Test cricket

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Angelo Mathews ended his final Test innings today (June 21) after being dismissed during the Test match between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh at Galle International Stadium.

Mathews was dismissed after scoring just 8 runs off 45 balls after being caught by Mominul Haque. The match also ended as a draw.

Mathews retires from the longest format of the game as he made 8,214 runs from 119 Tests at an average of 44.4, with 16 centuries and 49 half-centuries to his name. 

In 2013, Angelo Mathews was handed the leadership of the Test side for the first time in his career. He also became historic as the youngest Sri Lanka player to become Test captain. 

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