How is the election budget spent? Half the cost in 2020 was voted to pay the workforce

Abstract

The General Election is approaching, and the government expects to spend LKR 11 billion. This includes LKR 5 billion from the consolidated fund for 2024, with the remaining LKR 6 billion to be charged in next year's budget. This represents a 93% increase compared to the LKR 5.7 billion spent in 2020, although the government does not always spend the full allocated amount—it spent only LKR 5.7 billion out of the LKR 8 billion allocated last time in 2020 general election. In 2020, more than half of the expenditure was on salaries, overtime, and allowances for election staff, totaling LKR 3.2 billion (56% of the total expenditure). Other significant costs included fuel and vehicle rentals amounting to LKR 499 million, and printing costs of LKR 463 million.