The complaint centres on the dissemination of a message from the PMD by a news alert service claiming that Sri Lanka had reached agreements with external commercial creditors to restructure approximately $ 17.5 billion of external debt, securing a 40.3% Net Present Value (NPV) concession.

The SJB contends that this message is being used to promise voters a reduction in the national debt burden and lower interest rates, which they argue amounts to an improper inducement ahead of the upcoming election.

The SJB’s lawyers argue that these promises violate Sub-section (2) of the Extraordinary Gazette Notification No. 2394 / 58, dated 26-07-2024, which explicitly prohibits offering inducements or promises to sway voter opinion. They assert that the message is an attempt to influence voters by making unverified financial promises, thereby compromising electoral fairness.