An independent election monitoring body Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) in its first update of monitoring of campaign expenses by parties and candidates during the election, covering the July 2-15 period, said that the Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) has spent a total of Rs. 185 million for election related advertising.

Accordingly, the SJB has invested heavily in electronic media spending Rs. 168 million for advertising on TV and Radio for the campaign.

The CMEV also stated that the parties had collectively spent Rs. 514 million.

According to the CMEV, the second biggest spender was the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) with Rs. 151 million in total, while Rs. 107 for the electronic media.

The UNP is the third biggest spender had spent Rs.123 million in total with Rs. 111 million for the electronic media.