The Provincial Council elections are set to take place after the local government elections and no later than the end of 2025, according to a senior official from the Presidential Media Division (PMD).
The last Provincial Council elections were held nearly a decade ago, with polls conducted in the Uva and Southern provinces in 2014, the Northern and Northwestern provinces in 2013, and the Eastern, North-Central, and Sabaragamuwa provinces in 2012.
Subsequent elections faced significant delays. The primary reason was the rejection of a delimitation report by Parliament during the Maithripala Sirisena-Ranil Wickremesinghe administration, which resulted in the terms of elected members ending after five years. The Covid-19 pandemic and the ensuing economic crisis further postponed the electoral process.
During a cabinet press conference held on Tuesday (3), Cabinet Spokesperson and Minister of Health Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa stated that no concrete decision regarding the Provincial Council elections has been made thus far.
He explained that the Provincial Councils are currently operating under mechanisms established by the existing Constitution. Additionally, Dr. Jayatissa emphasized that the new Constitution being drafted by the National People’s Power (NPP) government would involve public consultations to determine the future role and structure of the Provincial Councils.
Despite this, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has reaffirmed his commitment to holding the Provincial Council elections. This assurance was given during a discussion with members of the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Party (ITAK) on Wednesday (4).
This development highlights ongoing efforts to address the long-standing delay in Provincial Council elections, ensuring they align with the country’s evolving constitutional framework.
