Government Ready to Hold Provincial Council Elections; President Anura

10-Nov-2025

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The government is fully prepared to hold the Provincial Council elections. A sum of 10 billion rupees has been allocated for this purpose. If party leaders in Parliament collectively agree on an appropriate electoral system, we are ready to conduct the elections, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said.

He stated this in Parliament on November 7 while responding to questions raised by the Opposition during the presentation of the 2026 Budget Speech.

He further stated:

“There is a law governing Provincial Council elections, but the delimitation process has not been completed. Your government could have completed the delimitation law, but you did not do so.

Daya Sri Jayasekara was also a minister at that time. When the delimitation report was submitted, the very first person to vote against it was Minister Faiszer Musthapha, who himself had presented the report. It is strange that the minister defeated his own report.

Now you are asking us to hold Provincial Council elections. At present, there is no space in the law. I have requested the Attorney General to clarify the legal provisions available for this.

Everyone must remember that this Parliament passed legislation rejecting the preferential voting system. In this Budget, we have allocated 10 billion rupees to conduct the elections. I cannot decide when the election will be held.

That responsibility rests with Parliament. If the party leaders collectively formulate a proper electoral system, we are ready to hold the elections.

The 10 billion rupees has been allocated with the expectation that elections will be held this year. Parliamentary approval is required for this allocation,” he said.