Provincial Council Elections Possible This Year If Report Submitted Within Three Months
12-Mar-2026.
Chairman of the Election Commission R.M.A.L. Ratnayake stated that the committee appointed to study the electoral system for Provincial Council elections must submit its report without delay. If the report is submitted within three months, the elections could be held within this year.
He made these remarks in response to a query regarding the Provincial Council elections.
Ratnayake said the commission would extend full cooperation to all decisions and actions taken by the government to conduct the elections. He emphasised that the commission is firmly committed to holding the Provincial Council elections as soon as possible.
Due to delays in completing the delimitation process required under the mixed electoral system introduced by the 2017 amendment to the Provincial Councils Elections Act, all Provincial Councils are currently functioning without elected representatives.
The Election Commission has previously submitted a report to the Parliamentary Select Committee on electoral reforms chaired by former Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, recommending that a mixed electoral system would be suitable for the country.
A special committee appointed by Parliament in 2022 to examine weaknesses in the electoral system recommended that delimitation be completed under the mixed electoral system introduced through the 2017 amendment before drafting new legislation. Until then, it suggested conducting elections under the proportional representation system.
The Supreme Court has repeatedly stated that Parliament must decide whether Provincial Council elections should be held under the old or the new electoral system.
In this context, a new special committee has been appointed to examine the issue. The committee has been granted full authority and the Election Commission will present its proposals before it.
The committee has been instructed to submit its report within three months. If the report is submitted by May, necessary steps will be taken under the law to hold the elections as soon as possible.
