Data in the Meta Ad Library has revealed that a staggering 1,389,657 USD, equivalent to over 422 million LKR, has been spent on political ads for the ongoing presidential elections in Sri Lanka. This figure underscores the intense financial investment in shaping public opinion as the counting process unfolds. Meanwhile, informed sources indicate that a substantial amount was also spent on President Wickremesinghe’s TikTok videos, with one video featuring a popular young social media influencer reportedly receiving 60 million LKR for his appearance.
This enormous amount spent on the presidential elections in 2024, for which counting is currently underway, comes from a country that declared bankruptcy just a few months ago and is still struggling to recover.
According to data revealed by Meta, the Ad Library has documented a total of 76,691 ads related to social issues, elections, or politics since May 2020. The total amount spent on these advertisements amounts to $1,389,657. This substantial figure reflects the extensive efforts of various political campaigns to engage voters and shape public discourse leading up to the elections.
The spending data indicates a highly competitive electoral landscape in Sri Lanka, as multiple candidates and parties vie for attention and support. As we delve into the specifics of expenditures by individual candidates, it becomes clear that strategic investments in advertising are crucial in influencing voter perception and mobilizing electoral support. The following sections detail the spending for each candidate, providing insights into their campaign strategies and outreach efforts.
Join Ranil led the way with $113,660 across 163 ads, while Sajith Premadasa closely followed with $110,436 on 818 ads. Ranil Wickremesinghe invested $89,810 in 175 ads, and Wijeyadasa Rajapakse allocated $56,901 for 640 ads. Anura Kumara Dissanayake, representing the National People’s Power (NPP), spent $23,012 on 45 ads. Angajan Ram spent $19,329 with 521 ads, while Sunethra Samarakoon followed closely with $19,063 on 412 ads. Samagi Jana Balawegaya invested $16,757 across 153 ads, and Vernon Gunaratne allocated $16,271 for 794 ads. Kanishka Sen made a notable investment of $14,904 across a significant 1,250 ads.
Further down the list, Harsha de Silva spent $14,095 on 386 ads, while S. M. Marikkar invested $12,678 in 358 ads. Transparency allocated $9,317 for 121 ads, and Janaka Ratnayake spent $8,875 on 60 ads. The Godayam spent $8,670 with 168 ads, and Madhura Vithan allocated $8,093 on 101 ads.
Thilanga Sumathipala spent $8,063 for 185 ads, and Siri Mama invested $7,378 across 39 ads. Media EmpoIREX spent $6,547 on 192 ads, while Dilith Jayaweera allocated $6,451 for 57 ads. Udaya Prabhakaran spent $6,318 across 117 ads.
Danasiri Amaratunga spent $6,298 on 173 ads. Rajaputhra WH spent $6,080 with 130 ads, while Kuttiy invested $5,619 for 31 ads. Alphatel spent $5,525 on 256 ads, and Binara Jayawardena allocated $5,405 for 253 ads.
Manthri.lk spent $5,365 on 380 ads, and Akila Viraj Kariyawasam invested $5,359 in 53 ads. Team Sajith spent $5,274 for 143 ads, while Hithuwakkari allocated $5,128 for 31 ads. The National People’s Power (NPP) spent $5,115 on 27 ads, and Nipuna Ranawaka spent $5,107 on 62 ads.
PAFFREL spent $4,878 on 82 ads. Wimal Weerawansa spent $4,785 for 9 ads, while Love You allocated $4,780 for 22 ads. Patali Champika Ranawaka invested $4,728 across 179 ads. One Way spent $4,639 with 25 ads, while Ranjith Siyambalapitiya allocated $4,594 for 36 ads.
Anura Fernandopulle spent $4,347 with 98 ads. The Samagi Janatha Party (SJB) spent $4,191 on 279 ads, while a campaign called Creatio allocated $4,024 for 26 ads. FactCheck.lk spent $4,024 across 309 ads, and Hithuwakkari invested $4,023 for 21 ads.
World Food Program spent $4,008 on 220 ads. Transparency allocated $3,875 for 41 ads. Shehara Herath invested $3,852 across 154 ads, while Dilith’s Diary spent $3,848 for 4 ads. Shiraz Yoonu allocated $3,733 on 146 ads.
Anuradha Jayaratne spent $3,717 for 148 ads, and Ajith Mannapperuma allocated $3,706 across 133 ads. NewsCenter.lk spent $3,635 with 65 ads. UNP Volunteers spent $3,592 for 10 ads, while Anuradha Wimalaweera invested $3,589 across 93 ads.
Kalawadana spent $3,390 with 14 ads, while Keheliya Rambukwella allocated $3,350 for 162 ads. Eranda Weliamuna spent $3,317 on 147 ads. Shanakiyan Rajapaksa invested $3,256 for 206 ads, while Politicslk spent $3,181 on 134 ads.
Kader Masthan spent $3,171 with 117 ads, while Anura Kumara Dissanayake (JVP) allocated $3,163 on 84 ads. Charith Galhena spent $3,098 with 113 ads, while YES WE CAN invested $3,087 for 74 ads.
WAHR spent $3,072 on 20 ads. Dr. Kithsiri Manoharan allocated $3,012 for 120 ads, while Senthil Thon spent $2,976 with 406 ads. Anuradha Dissanayake invested $2,965 across 13 ads. Mahinda Rajapaksa spent $2,890 on 25 ads.
Mahinda Samaraweera allocated $2,859 for 111 ads. The Wise Voice spent $2,859 on 58 ads. Isthihar Imad spent $2,789 across 209 ads. Malakadaya spent $2,777 with 20 ads, while Dr. Vidura Wickramanayake invested $2,748 for 32 ads.
Aathal spent $2,729 on 31 ads. Address Naa allocated $2,708 for 15 ads. Saranalal spent $2,700 with 70 ads, while Janagan Vinayagam spent $2,669 on 191 ads. Mahinda Amarawira invested $2,657 for 72 ads.
Politicslk Sin spent $2,603 with 115 ads. Udara Rathnayake allocated $2,581 on 75 ads, while Thissa Kuttiah spent $2,464 for 253 ads. Mawbima Janatha Party spent $2,417 on 51 ads.
Wajira Abeywardena allocated $2,414 for 132 ads. Pavithra Wanniarachchi spent $2,372 on 66 ads. Dayasiri Jayasekara invested $2,350 for 50 ads, while DVA For Animals spent $2,346 with 77 ads. Verité Research allocated $2,305 on 215 ads.
The Office of Saji spent $2,262 for 23 ads, while Kunda spent $2,259 on 18 ads. Vasudewa Nanayakkara invested $2,247 with 111 ads. Nalaka Godah allocated $2,230 for 51 ads, and Bandula Gunawardena spent $2,193 on 81 ads.
Sarath Weerasekera spent $2,184 for 72 ads. Dr. Kavinda Jayawardena allocated $2,182 with 28 ads. Manusha Nanayakkara invested $2,160 across 177 ads. The President’s Media spent $2,150 on 35 ads.
Hasith Gunasekera spent $2,148 for 321 ads. Selvarasa Selvanathan invested $2,144 on 75 ads. Webnews.lk spent $2,139 with 224 ads. Gavanes Edagathukale spent $2,119 on 13 ads.
Mihirakara spent $2,094 for 17 ads. Rajitha Senaratne allocated $2,090 on 17 ads. Jehan Wijayaratne spent $2,060 with 25 ads. Mena spent $2,040 on 10 ads. Arogya Herbs invested $2,030 for 57 ads.
Wasantha Dissanayake spent $2,016 for 21 ads. Ravi Karunanayake allocated $2,013 on 59 ads. Premnath C. D. spent $2,010 for 78 ads. The World Health Organization allocated $2,001 for 15 ads. United Center spent $2,001 on 120 ads.
Keerthi Sri We allocated $1,930 for 118 ads. Athuraliye Rathana spent $1,921 for 69 ads. Mahindanan Watapita invested $1,911 with 79 ads. Advocata Institute spent $1,901 for 74 ads. Sanip Na spent $1,888 on 17 ads.
Ifthikar Jameel allocated $1,877 for 68 ads, while Gamini Walebow spent $1,869 on 75 ads. Fazlan Farook invested $1,852 for 140 ads. Green Blood spent $1,846 on 75 ads. Niroshan Padmadeva allocated $1,826 for 111 ads.
Kukka spent $1,825 with 12 ads. Gunapala Ratwatte allocated $1,823 on 40 ads. Nalin Fernando spent $1,817 for 19 ads. Coexistence spent $1,812 on 68 ads.
Upul Nandana spent $1,646 for 79 ads. Kaushalya Puttalam allocated $1,612 on 50 ads. Keheliya Rajapakse spent $1,610 with 71 ads. Eagerness invested $1,596 for 22 ads. SPK spent $1,584 on 12 ads.
Chamika Gayan invested $1,581 for 29 ads. Thenuka Nanayakkara allocated $1,564 on 55 ads. MP Janith spent $1,555 for 29 ads. Lasantha Bandara spent $1,529 on 62 ads. Ganesh M. I. allocated $1,513 for 37 ads.
Shantha Mahendra spent $1,511 for 16 ads, while Vijayakumar spent $1,500 on 15 ads. Galla sent $1,479 for 40 ads. Chaturaka Bandara spent $1,455 on 57 ads. Sanjaya Alutgama allocated $1,451 for 18 ads.
Ranjith Siyambalapitiya spent $1,426 on 30 ads, while Ranjan Kumaravel spent $1,409 for 39 ads. Govi Kith spent $1,386 on 52 ads. Binoy Indrani invested $1,369 for 50 ads. Hanifa allocated $1,351 for 37 ads.
Sakuna spent $1,349 for 39 ads. Sanjeeva Dasan spent $1,333 on 20 ads. Home For All allocated $1,327 on 39 ads. Kithsiri Dissanayake spent $1,322 for 57 ads. Grief of Country allocated $1,311 on 13 ads.
Kumarasiri Mohan spent $1,307 for 41 ads, while Abeywardena Rajapaksa invested $1,294 on 37 ads. Marimuthu spent $1,283 on 22 ads. Roshani Mahesh spent $1,264 for 15 ads. Bandula Kothalawala spent $1,263 on 13 ads.
Sahan Dissanayake allocated $1,258 for 18 ads. A. K. S. M. spent $1,257 on 23 ads. Amiththar Dharmarajah spent $1,241 for 15 ads. Prabhath allocated $1,237 on 22 ads. Anura Kumara spent $1,223 for 10 ads.
P. K. T. invested $1,216 for 11 ads. A. A. J. S. P. spent $1,210 for 29 ads. Sanath Jayasuriya spent $1,201 for 17 ads. Sarath K. spent $1,200 on 11 ads. The Office of Good Governance spent $1,192 on 18 ads.
Chandra Dhananjaya allocated $1,187 for 19 ads. K. S. S. M. D. spent $1,185 for 22 ads. Kalpana G. G. spent $1,182 on 22 ads. Saman K. allocated $1,180 on 14 ads. Sunil Jayakodi spent $1,177 for 28 ads. The Green Society spent $1,164 on 14 ads, while Murugan allocated $1,161 for 16 ads. Green Sound spent $1,155 on 25 ads. Waidyasuriya spent $1,152 for 19 ads. Tony spent $1,146 for 20 ads.
Aluthgama spent $1,141 for 25 ads, while Adamant spent $1,137 on 24 ads. Senevi spent $1,131 for 16 ads. R. J. S. K. allocated $1,121 on 22 ads. Shayan spent $1,114 for 22 ads. Anish Kumar spent $1,108 on 18 ads, while D. V. S. K. allocated $1,104 for 16 ads. Shaleen spent $1,100 for 18 ads. Manukota spent $1,094 on 20 ads. Shayan Rajapaksa spent $1,087 for 15 ads.
Niranjan K. spent $1,081 for 13 ads. Uda M. K. spent $1,078 on 23 ads. M. K. P. N. spent $1,070 on 14 ads. Niranjan I. spent $1,064 for 18 ads. U. D. S. M. spent $1,058 for 12 ads. Jayalalitha spent $1,047 for 20 ads. R. K. R. S. spent $1,044 for 18 ads. B. A. N. allocated $1,040 on 15 ads. Thusitha P. spent $1,033 on 18 ads. Sanath S. K. spent $1,030 for 10 ads. Pradeep B. spent $1,027 on 15 ads. The Federal Party spent $1,025 for 12 ads. J. L. D. allocated $1,024 for 15 ads. N. M. S. spent $1,023 for 15 ads. T. A. N. spent $1,021 on 14 ads.
Janaki M. invested $1,020 for 10 ads. The State spent $1,018 on 12 ads. Vijayakumar S. spent $1,016 for 11 ads. Govindhan N. spent $1,012 on 12 ads. D. P. R. spent $1,010 for 20 ads.
This data illustrates the significant financial commitment made by various political entities as they prepare for the upcoming elections, highlighting the competitive nature of the electoral landscape in Sri Lanka.
