Sri Lanka currently lacks a comprehensive regulatory framework to guide private sector practices in making financial contributions to political parties and candidates, and a Best Practices Guide for the Private Sector is essential to uphold the spirit of the new law. This regulatory gap has led to a lack of standardised disclosure mechanisms and potential opacity in corporate political engagement. A Best Practices Gudie would offer voluntary standards for transparency, model policies, and disclosure templates, enabling companies to participate in political financing ethically and responsibly while reinforcing democratic reforms.

While broader political finance reforms are essential to uphold electoral integrity and anti-corruption commitments, the proposed guide focuses specifically on the private sector’s role. It aims to review the Regulation of Election Expenditure Act No. 3 of 2023, assess current corporate campaign finance practices in Sri Lanka, and benchmark them against international standards. The outcome will be a practitioner-oriented Best Practices Guide featuring core principles, model policies, disclosure templates, and actionable recommendations to promote voluntary corporate compliance and responsible political engagement.