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2025 Sri Lankan local elections

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2025 Sri Lankan local elections
← 2024 6 May 2025
339 local authorities
(28 municipal councils, 36 urban councils and 275 pradeshiya sabhas)
Registered17,296,330
  First party Second party Third party
 
Leader Mahinda Rajapaksa Ranil Wickremesinghe Maithripala Sirisena
Party SLPP UNP PA
Last election 40.47%,
231 councils 		29.42%,
34 councils[b] 		12.10%,
9 councils[a]
Seats before 3,436 2,433 1,048
  Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party
 
ITAK
Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake S. Shritharan Sajith Premadasa
Party NPP ITAK SJB
Last election 5.75%,
0 councils[d] 		2.73%,
41 councils[e] 		DNC[c]
Seats before 434 417 DNC
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Local elections are scheduled to be held in Sri Lanka on 6 May 2025.[1][2][3] A total of 17,296,330 Sri Lankans will be eligible to vote in this election, according to the Election Commission of Sri Lanka. Voters will elect members to 339 of the 341 local authorities in the country, including 28 municipal councils, 36 urban councils and 275 pradeshiya sabhas.[4][5][6]

Background

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Sri Lanka's last local government elections in 2018 resulted in the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) securing a majority with 40% of the vote.[7][8][9]

Gotabaya Rajapaksa, contesting under the SLPP, subsequently won the 2019 Sri Lankan presidential election, while Mahinda Rajapaksa led the SLPP to victory in the 2020 Sri Lankan parliamentary election.[10][11]

During their tenure, the SLPP government, faced numerous challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic and a severe economic crisis. These issues culminated in widespread protests and the 2022 Sri Lankan political crisis.[12]

As a result, Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled the country and resigned as president, while Mahinda Rajapaksa also stepped down as prime minister.[13][14] Ranil Wickremesinghe was first appointed prime minister and later became acting president following Gotabaya Rajapaksa's resignation. On 20 July 2022, Wickremesinghe was elected by parliament as the 9th President of Sri Lanka, tasked with completing the remainder of Rajapaksa's term.[15]

In the 2024 Sri Lankan presidential election held on 21 September 2024, Anura Kumara Dissanayake of the National People's Power (NPP) defeated Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa and incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe to become the 10th President of Sri Lanka. In the subsequent 2024 Sri Lankan parliamentary election, the NPP emerged as the largest party, winning a supermajority with 159 elected members and 61.56% of the votes. The NPP subsequently formed the government of Sri Lanka.[16][17]

Postponing of polls

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The term of office for 340 out of 341 local government authorities expired at midnight on 19 March 2023. Elections, originally scheduled for 2022, were indefinitely postponed by President Rajapaksa due to the economic crisis, extending the term by one year.[18][19]

The Election Commission set 9 March 2023 as the new election date, with the SLPP being the first to submit deposits.[20][21]

On 14 February 2023, postal voting was delayed when the government printer refused to supply ballots without payment, raising concerns about further postponements. By late February, doubts over the election's feasibility grew amid funding disputes. President Wickremesinghe argued elections should not be held during the crisis due to financial constraints. On 24 February, the Election Commission officially postponed the elections again, initially rescheduling them for 25 April.[22][23][24][25][26]

Opposition parties, including the Samagi Jana Balawegaya, criticised Wickremesinghe's position. Sajith Premadasa noted that the UNP had submitted nominations despite no confirmed election date.[27]

Court ruling and subsequent proceedings

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On 22 August 2024, the Supreme Court ruled that the election delay violated voters' rights and ordered the Election Commission to hold elections immediately.[28]

On 3 December 2024, the cabinet approved drafting the Local Authorities Elections (Special Provisions) Bill to annul the 2023 nominations for the postponed elections and call for new nominations. The bill was published in The Sri Lanka Gazette on 1 January and presented to Parliament on 9 January 2025.[29][30]

Nizam Kariapper and three other parties petitioned the Supreme Court, challenging the constitutionality of certain clauses.[31] Following hearings, the Court ruled that some clauses were inconsistent with the Constitution and required a special majority for enactment.[32][33][34][35] Despite this, on 17 February 2025, Parliament passed the bill by special majority without amendments. It was endorsed by the Speaker the same day, becoming the Local Authorities Elections (Special Provisions) Act No. 01 of 2025.[36][37][38]

A Gazette Extraordinary issued on 17 February 2025 stated that the term of 339 out of 341 local government authorities would commence on 2 June 2025. This includes 28 municipal councils, 36 urban councils and 275 pradeshiya sabhas.[4][39] The Kalmunai Municipal Council was excluded due to ongoing legal proceedings, while the Elpitiya Pradeshiya Sabha was excluded as its election had been held on 26 October 2024.[40][41]

On 3 March 2025, the Election Commission announced nominations for 336 local authorities would be accepted from 17 to 20 March 2025. The Kalmunai Municipal Council and the pradeshiya sabhas of Dehiattakandiya, Elpitiya, Mannar and Poonakari were excluded.[42][43][44][45] On 10 March, the Commission announced nominations for Dehiattakandiya, Mannar and Poonakari would be accepted from 24 to 27 March.[46][47][48]

On 20 March 2025, the Election Commission set the election date for 6 May 2025.[1][2][3] The elections for the three pradeshiya sabhas—Dehiattakandiya, Elpitiya and Poonakari—which finalised nominations on 27 March 2025, will also be also held on the same date.[49][50][51]

Timeline

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Key events and dates
Date Day Event Ref.
21 September 2024 Saturday 2024 Sri Lankan presidential election: Anura Kumara Dissanayake is elected as president. [16]
14 November 2024 Thursday 2024 Sri Lankan parliamentary election: The National People's Power emerged as the largest party, securing a supermajority with 159 elected members and 61.56% of the vote. [17]
17–20 March 2025 Monday to Thursday The nomination period for 336 local authorities (28 municipal councils, 36 urban councils and 272 pradeshiya sabhas). [42][43][44]
[45]
24–27 March 2025 Monday to Thursday The nomination period for Dehiattakandiya, Mannar and Poonakari Pradeshiya Sabhas. [40][46][47]
[48]
22–24 April 2025 Tuesday to Thursday Postal voting for pre-approved applicants. 28 and 29 April allocated for voters unable to cast their votes on the earlier dates. [52][53]
6 May 2025 Tuesday Election day. [1][2][3]
[50][51]
2 June 2025 Monday The commencement date of the new term for 339 local government authorities (28 municipal councils, 36 urban councils and 275 pradeshiya sabhas). [4][39]

Electoral system

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See also: Elections in Sri Lanka and Local government in Sri Lanka
Further information: Local government in Sri Lanka § Electoral system

As of the 2025 elections, there are 341 local councils, comprising 29 municipal councils, 36 urban councils and 276 pradeshiya sabhas. Local authority elections are conducted using a mixed-member proportional representation (MMPR) system, as outlined in the Local Authorities Election (Amendment) Acts No. 22 of 2012, No. 1 of 2016 and No. 16 of 2017.[54][55]

Under this system, 60% of seats are allocated through the first-past-the-post (FPTP) method, where the candidate with the most votes wins in a designated single or multi-member ward. The remaining 40% are distributed proportionally (PR) based on the votes received by each political party or independent group.[55] The first election conducted under this system was the 2018 Sri Lankan local elections.[56][57]

The Delimitation Commission has defined the number of wards for all local authorities, with the details published in Gazette Extraordinary No. 1928/26 of 21 August 2015 and No. 2006/44 of 17 February 2017.[58]

To allocate seats proportionally, the district returning officer first calculates the average votes per seat (X) by dividing the total valid votes by the total available seats. Each party's or independent group's seat entitlement (Y) is then determined by dividing its total valid votes by X. Finally, the number of seats won through first-past-the-post (FPTP) is subtracted from Y, determining the additional seats (Z) awarded under proportional representation.[57]

Under the mixed-member proportional representation (MMPR) system, a party's seats are allocated based on its share of the total vote. If entitled to ten seats but winning seven constituencies, it receives three list seats to meet its entitlement. However, if a party wins more constituencies than its entitlement, the extra seat is an overhang seat. Overhang seats arise from the winner-takes-all nature of electoral districts or the geographic distribution of party support, allowing a party to win many seats with relatively few votes.[59]

Recent Sri Lankan election results

[edit]
Election Results
National People's Power Samagi Jana Balawegaya New Democratic Front[f] Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi Others Map
Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes %
2024 presidential election[g] 5,634,915 42.31% 4,363,035 32.76% 2,299,767 17.27% 342,781 2.57% — — 407,473 3.06%
2024 Elpitiya PS election 17,295 47.64% 7,924 21.83% — — 3,597 9.91% — — 7,489 20.62% —
2024 parliamentary election 6,863,186 61.56% 1,968,716 17.66% 500,835 4.49% 350,429 3.14% 257,813 2.31% 1,207,027 10.22%

Contesting parties

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A list of recognised political parties was published in a Gazette Extraordinary on 3 March 2025 by the Election Commission.[60]

Contesting parties
Party name Symbol 2018 Sri Lankan local elections
Votes % Seats won Local authorities
won
Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna
40.74%
3,436 / 8,708
231 / 340
United National Party[b]
29.42%
2,433 / 8,708
34 / 340
People's Alliance[a]
12.10%
1,048 / 8,708
9 / 340
National People's Power[d]
5.75%
434 / 8,708
0 / 340
Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi[e]
2.73%
417 / 8,708
41 / 340
Samagi Jana Balawegaya[c]
— — —

Campaign

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Campaign finances

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On 27 March 2025, the Election Commission announced expenditure limits for each local authority under the Election Expenditure Act, No. 3 of 2023.[61] The minimum expenditure per voter is set at SL Rs. 74, while the maximum is capped at Rs. 160. 50% of the funds will be allocated for candidates contesting at the electoral level. 30% for those at the local government institution level and 20% for candidates on the second list.[62][63]

Voting

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Postal voting

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Postal voting will take place from 22 to 24 April 2025, with 28 and 29 April allocated for voters unable to cast their votes on the earlier dates. It is limited to pre-approved applicants, primarily government employees whose election duties prevent them from voting on election day.[52][53]

Notes

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  1. ^ a b Indicates the results achieved by the United People's Freedom Alliance in the 2018 election.
  2. ^ a b Indicates the results achieved by the United National Front in the 2018 election.
  3. ^ a b The party was formed in 2020 and therefore did not contest the 2018 election.
  4. ^ a b Indicates the results achieved by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna in the 2018 election.
  5. ^ a b Indicate the results achieved by the Tamil National Alliance in the 2018 election.
  6. ^ Ranil Wickremesinghe contested as an independent candidate in the 2024 presidential election. The NDF contested the 2024 parliamentary election as an alliance under the leadership of Wickremesinghe.
  7. ^ Without preferences

References

[edit]
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  54. ^ Local Authorities Election legislation:
  55. ^ a b "Local Authorities Election System". Election Commission of Sri Lanka. 2024. Archived from the original on 24 September 2024. Retrieved 26 March 2025.
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  58. ^ The Delimitation Commission:
  59. ^ Overhang seats
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  63. ^ Farzan, Zulfick (27 March 2025). "Spending Limits Announced for Local Govt Poll". english.newsfirst.lk. Archived from the original on 27 March 2025. Retrieved 27 March 2025.
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