Ten political parties funded from abroad

Sandasen MARASINGHE and Disna MUDALIGE

Chief Government Whip and Water Supply and Drainage Minister Dinesh Gunawardena yesterday stated in Parliament that 10 political parties among the 64 political parties recognized by the Elections Commissioner, receive funds from foreign countries.

Minister Gunawardena

The minister revealed that the Democratic People’s Liberation Front receives Rs 3.6 million annually, while the Padmanaba Eelam People’s Revolutionary Front receives Rs. 875,000 and Eelavar Democratic Front receives Rs 800,000 annually from foreign members.

According to a tabled document by the minister, the Ceylon Workers’ Congress received Rs 593,000, the Eelam People’s Revolutionary Front receives Rs 500,000, the Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization receives

Rs 490,000, the National Freedom Front receives Rs 275,000, the Tamil United Liberation Front receives Rs 170,000 and the United National Party receives Rs 49,500 annually from overseas.

The minister also said that according to the documents presented by the Elections Commissioner, 43 political parties, including the UPFA, do not receive foreign funds.

He also revealed that four political parties had not submitted account reports.

The minister stated that the government is carrying out an investigation to find out whether the money sent by LTTE supporters and diaspora to these political parties has affected the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Sri Lanka. The minister made this disclosure in response to a question raised by UPFA MP Shantha Bandara.