Press briefing of Cabinet Decision taken on 2024-04-08 (Subject to Confirmation at the next Meeting)

Revision of Security Deposits at Elections

- It has been identified that it would be appropriate to update the existing limits of security deposits in a timely manner as per the present social, economic and political background, in terms of the provisions of the Presidential Elections Act, the Parliamentary Elections Act and the Provincial Councils Elections Act. Accordingly, the joint proposal made by the Hon. President and the Minister of Justice, Prison Affairs and Constitutional Reforms to instruct the Legal Draftsman to prepare a Bill to revise the relevant security deposits as follows, was approved by the Cabinet.

• Increasing the security deposit of a candidate from a recognized political party up to Rs. 2.6 million and the security deposit of an independent candidate up to Rs. 3.1 million, as per the the Presidential Elections Act No. 15 of 1981.

• Increasing the security deposit of a candidate from a recognized political party up to Rs. 11,000/- and the security deposit of a candidate of an independent group up to Rs. 16,000/-, as per the Parliamentary Election Act, No. 1 of 1981.

• Increasing the security deposit of a candidate representing a recognized political party up to Rs. 6,000/- and the security deposit of a candidate of an independent group up to Rs. 11,000/-, as per the Provincial Councils Elections Act, No. 2 of 1988.