Election monitoring organizations and civil society groups have expressed concern that the present administration may continue the long-standing practice of postponing Provincial Council elections, a trend that has persisted under successive governments. They have urged the authorities to protect democratic principles by conducting the elections without further delay, even if this requires temporarily reverting to the previous electoral system.
These concerns were raised during a joint media briefing held in Colombo last week.
Speaking at the event, the Executive Director of the People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL), Rohana Hettiarachchi, stated that citizens have been deprived of their democratic right to elect their representatives to the Provincial Councils for more than a decade.
According to Hettiarachchi, the process of delaying Provincial Council elections began in 2017 and has continued under subsequent administrations. He argued that governments throughout Sri Lanka’s history have often altered electoral arrangements to strengthen or preserve their political authority.
However, he pointed out that previous administrations generally sought to maintain power by calling elections early or conducting them in stages rather than postponing them indefinitely. He emphasized that the present situation, in which Provincial Council elections have remained suspended for almost ten years, has created a serious democratic deficit.
Hettiarachchi further noted that the current administration had pledged in its election manifesto to conduct both local government and Provincial Council elections within a year of assuming office. He argued that the government was already aware of the challenges surrounding the electoral process when those commitments were made.
Civil society representatives also expressed concern that repeated delays have become a recurring feature of governance, irrespective of which political party holds power.
Meanwhile, a Parliamentary Select Committee appointed to examine the Provincial Council electoral system was initially given three months to complete its work. Following the expiration of that period, its mandate was extended for an additional three months.
PAFFREL stated that, in an effort to assist the committee, it organized a meeting involving the secretaries of political parties represented in the country. According to the organization, a consensus emerged in favour of holding the elections under the previous electoral framework until a new system could be fully implemented.
Representatives of the organizations argued that continued references to technical difficulties should not become a justification for further delays. They called upon the government to establish a clear timetable for the elections and to ensure that citizens are able to exercise their democratic rights through the ballot box.
The prolonged postponement of Provincial Council elections has remained a subject of public debate in Sri Lanka, with advocates maintaining that elected provincial administrations are essential for strengthening democratic accountability and ensuring effective regional governance.
