2025 Local Government Elections Today

COLOMBO (News 1st): The 2025 Local Government Elections will commence at 7 am and conclude at 4 p.m. today.

A total of 8,287 members will be elected to 339 local bodies, which include 28 Municipal Councils, 36 Urban Councils, and 272 Pradeshiya Sabhas.

A total of 17,296,330 voters will be eligible to cast their votes at the 2025 Local Government Elections, an increase of 155,976 compared to last year's presidential and parliamentary elections.

Polling will take place at 13,759 polling centers across the country.

A total of 75,589 candidates will contest the 2025 Local Government Election, representing 49 recognized political parties and 257 independent groups.

Chairman of the Election Commission, R.M.A.L. Rathnayake, has urged voters to cast their votes early in the day.

The Election Commission has also ensured that facilities are available for voters with special needs. Visually impaired persons may be accompanied by another individual when entering the polling station.

The Commission has warned that photographing or sharing ballot papers on social media is strictly prohibited.

Chairman Ratnayake added that strict legal action will be taken against any violators of election laws.

Sri Lanka Police has confirmed that a special islandwide security plan is in effect during the polling period. 

Police Spokesperson, SSP Buddhika Manatunga, said that approximately 65,000 police officers have been deployed for election duties. The Ministry of Defense has confirmed that members of the tri-forces have also been deployed to maintain security.

The Local government Elections will be monitored by approximately 4,450 local election observers, according to leading election monitoring organizations.

Executive Director Rohana Hettiarachchi confirmed that the People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) will deploy nearly 3,000 observers, including over 800 mobile observers.

Manas Makeen, the Executive Director of Campaign for Free & Fair Election (CAFE) confirmed that 1250 election observers representing the organization will be deployed for election monitoring.

The Institute for Democratic Reforms and Electoral Studies (IRES) will field 200 observers, supported by 50 mobile observation vehicles, according to Executive Director Manjula Gajanayake.

Notably, no international observers will be participating in this election cycle, making it a fully domestically monitored process.

A special disaster management center has also been established, according to Pradeep Kodippili, Director of the Disaster Management Center.