Cabinet approval has been granted to increase the security deposit that should be placed by a candidate contesting for the Presidential, Parliamentary or Provincial Council Elections, Cabinet Spokesman and Mass Media Minister Dr. Bandula Gunawardhana said.
Speaking at the weekly Cabinet Media Conference held yesterday at the Government Information Department, Minister Gunawardena said that the decision to revise the election security deposits has been taken after considering the present social, political and economic situation of the country.
Accordingly the Cabinet of Ministers approved the combined proposal presented by President Ranil Wickremesinghe together with Justice Minister Dr.Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe as per the provisions of the Presidential Elections Act, the Parliamentary Elections Act and the Provincial Council Elections Act. Accordingly, the deposit of a candidate from a recognized political party will be increased to Rs.2.6 million and an independent candidate to Rs.3.1 million, according to the Presidential Elections Act No.15 of 1981.
The deposit of a candidate from a recognized political party will be increased to Rs.11,000 and a candidate from an independent group to Rs.16,000, according to the Parliamentary Elections Act No. 1 of 1981. The deposit of a candidate from a recognized political party will be increased to Rs.6,000 and a candidate from an independent group to Rs.11,000, according to the Provincial Councils Elections Act No. 2 of 1988.
Ishara Mudugamuwa