Government Moves to Fast-Track Provincial Council Elections

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils, and Local Government has announced plans to expedite legal amendments to facilitate the prompt conduct of Provincial Council elections. 

Minister (Professor) Chandana Abeyratne stated that Parliament had approved the mixed proportional representation system for these elections under the Provincial Councils Act No. 17 of 2016.

However, the implementation of this system requires the approval of the Delimitation Commission's report, which was defeated in Parliament. 

Consequently, there have been calls to revert to the previous electoral system for conducting the Provincial Council elections.

Under the previous system, elections would be held according to the provisions of the Provincial Councils Elections Act of 1988. 

Minister Abeyratne indicated that a proposal regarding this matter would be swiftly presented to the Cabinet.

Following Cabinet approval, necessary steps will be taken to conduct the Provincial Council elections by August 2025.