IRES to examine MPs’ asset declarations and election campaign finances

The Institute for Democratic Reforms and Electoral Studies (IRES) is set to investigate the asset and liability declarations, as well as the election campaign finances of Sri Lanka's 225 Members of Parliament (MPs). The research will compare the declarations from the 2024 and 2025 elections to identify any significant changes in MPs' financial interests.

In addition, IRES will examine the documents accompanying the declarations and cross-reference them with campaign finance returns submitted to the Election Commission for the 2024 parliamentary elections.

Manjula Gajanayake, the Executive Director of IRES, emphasized the relevance of the study as Sri Lanka contemplates changes to asset and liability declaration provisions under the Anti-Corruption Act. The research aims to determine if the information provided by candidates during the election campaign aligns with the financial disclosures made after their election.

Gajanayake further explained that the study will analyze the connection between campaign expenditures and income and MPs' asset and liability declarations, offering a data-driven assessment of the nation's political finance and public-sector transparency systems.

The methodology and baseline data generated through this study will be utilized for annual monitoring of future declarations. This research is also anticipated to contribute to the ongoing discussion surrounding public access to asset and liability declarations, as well as the transparency of elected representatives' financial interests.