No Legal Basis for Provincial Council Elections, Says Election Commissioner

15-Oct-2025

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The delay in conducting provincial council elections is not due to the Election Commission. As the government body responsible for implementing law, the Commission cannot operate without legislation. 

If the Commission had full authority to decide on national elections, no election, including provincial council elections, would have been delayed, stated Elections Commissioner Saman Sri Ratnayake.

Amid heated discussions in national politics regarding the provincial council elections proposed under the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, the commissioner clarified the Commission’s stance. 

He added that there is currently no legal framework detailing how provincial council elections should be conducted. 

Therefore, the Commission is unable to hold such elections, and those now demanding urgent elections had previously acted to defer them since 2018.

If urgent elections are desired, submitting a petition in Parliament would suffice, he noted, emphasizing that talking about proportional representation again is unnecessary when there is no enabling legislation.