Provincial Council Election Committee to Meet on July 10

01-Jul-2026

.

The Parliamentary Select Committee on Provincial Council Elections will meet again on July 10, but there is little likelihood of an early resolution to the delay in holding the elections, according to Samagi Jana Balawegaya General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara.

He said the government has sought an additional three months to make a decision, resulting in further delays. As a result, the chances of holding Provincial Council elections this year appear slim.

He noted that at the committee's first meeting, several Opposition members, including Mano Ganesan, Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam and Nizam Kariapper, submitted formal proposals. However, the process has continued beyond the original three-month timeframe due to repeated delays by the government.

The Opposition has proposed conducting the elections under the previous proportional representation system. While the government has called for mandatory representation for women and youth, the Opposition has agreed to reserve 25 per cent representation, even without making it a legal requirement.

Madduma Bandara said the committee has made little progress despite functioning for more than three months, reinforcing the view that the elections are unlikely to be held this year.