IPS Publication: The Economic Stakes of the 2024 Presidential Election

As Sri Lanka gears up for elections, policymakers must avoid rash economic promises that risk a decade of lost growth and an era of relative decline.  As too often in the past, Sri Lanka appears not to have broken its damaging tendency towards ‘competitive populism’ ahead of elections. Fiscally profligate promises ranging from wage increases […]

Public Resource Misuse Sparks Over 750 Complaints to TISL

Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) has received 758 complaints concerning the misuse of public resources for election campaigning as of September 11, 2024. The largest category of complaints—343 in total—pertains to the misuse of public premises. These include the misuse of public grounds, government offices, buildings, and schools etc. for election campaigns. Complaints detail instances […]

Rampant Misuse of Public Resources Obstructs a Free and Fair Election: TISL

Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL) expresses deep concern over the rampant misuse of public resources reported during the ‘Presidential Election 2024’. With 580 complaints received as of Wednesday, September 4, TISL urges the Election Commission of Sri Lanka (ECSL) to take immediate and decisive action to halt these violations and uphold the integrity of the […]

Government Reaches Agreement with IMF to Revise PAYE tax Policy, says President

President Ranil Wickremesinghe announced that the government has reached an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to revise the Pay As You Earn (PAYE) tax, a significant concern for the public. He assured that following further discussions, relief measures would be implemented as soon as possible. “With the appreciation of the rupee, the cost […]

‘s pre-poll announcements of subsidies and pay hikes

Transparency International Sri Lanka (TISL), in its role as an election watchdog that scrutinizes the misuse of public resources for election propaganda during the Presidential Election 2024, highlights that the Government’s recent pre-poll announcements on providing various subsidies and salary increments are a blatant and intentional violation of election laws. The Government last week announced that the […]

Claims of Large Outstanding Taxes Are an Illusion; Over Rs. 1Tn Tax Revenue Suspended Due to Court Cases: Officials

Commissioner General of the Excise Department M.J. Gunasiri dismissed claims of significant arrears in three major government revenue sources—namely the Inland Revenue Department, Sri Lanka Customs, and the Excise Department—as myths. Speaking at the press briefing titled “Collective Path to a Stable Country” held at the Presidential Media Centre (PMC), today (26), he clarified that […]

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