By In a scathing attack on the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), Dilith Jayaweera, Chief of the Mawbima Janatha Party (DJP), accused the JVP leaders of leading luxurious lives funded by the party’s resources. Speaking at his party’s district meeting in Kurunegala on the 21st, Jayaweera alleged that the JVP had defaulted on tax payments, further emphasizing the need for auditing the funds of all political parties and subjecting them to income tax.
Jayaweera criticized the irony of a party claiming to catch thieves being a thief itself, urging the JVP to address the alleged internal corruption before pointing fingers at others. He questioned the justification behind JVP leaders simultaneously running trade unions and enjoying lavish lifestyles.
Elections Commission’s plans:
The timing of Jayaweera’s accusations coincides with the Elections Commission’s plans to implement campaign finance laws ahead of the upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections. Election Commission Chairman R.M.A.L. Ratnayake announced that preparations, including the issuance of Gazette notifications and briefings for relevant officials and political party secretaries, would commence in the coming week.
To ensure the effective implementation of campaign finance laws, officials from various institutions, including the Police Department, Bribery Commission, Inland Revenue Department, Auditor General’s Department, and the Attorney General’s Department, will be summoned for briefings within the next two weeks. Ratnayake highlighted the issuance of Gazette notifications specifying limitations on candidate expenses during campaigns and the crucial role these institutions would play in monitoring and enforcing these regulations.
