Sri Lanka to Hold Provincial Council Elections Next Year — Minister Lal Kantha

18-Oct-2025

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With the government having announced that provincial council elections will be held next year, Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation Lal Kantha has reaffirmed that provincial council elections will indeed take place next year, whether under the old system or a new system.

He pointed out that the government could conduct the elections under the previous system by making amendments to the law already enacted in Parliament concerning provincial council elections.

“We hold a two-thirds parliamentary majority. Therefore, we can carry out the necessary legislative amendments to hold provincial council elections under the old system,” he said.

Answering a question about whether opposition alliances at the forthcoming provincial council elections could pose a challenge to the government, he expressed confidence that such alliances would not present any difficulty or problem for them.

“We have a President with the constitutional authority to govern in a consensual manner and 159 MPs who will act appropriately. A new political culture has been established. The public has a clear understanding of the National People’s Power government and the local councils that we will administer. Therefore, we have no concerns about the upcoming elections,” he stated.