Provincial Council Elections Will Be Held This Year: Minister Krishantha Abeysena

16-May-2026

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Minister of Science and Technology Krishantha Abeysena has stated that the government intends to hold the Provincial Council elections within this year and is not afraid of elections. He said the government has focused more on managing crises caused by external factors.

He made these remarks while speaking to the media following an event in Kandy on May 15.

The Minister said opposition parties operate with the mindset of finding faults in government actions and often make baseless allegations that fail to hold ground even for a week.

He described Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa’s criticism as laughable and lacking foundation, and advised him not to behave like members of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna.

Abeysena reiterated that the government’s position is to hold Provincial Council elections within the year and that there is no need to postpone them. However, he noted that legal issues in the electoral system must first be resolved.

All opposition parties have reportedly demanded that the government announce a firm decision on the Provincial Council elections within the coming month. They have also urged the Parliamentary Select Committee appointed to study the electoral system to submit its report within three months without delay.