The 2025 Local Government Elections officially kicked off this morning, with polling stations across the island opening at 7:00 am to welcome over 17 million eligible Sri Lankan voters. Citizens will cast their ballots to elect representatives to 339 local government bodies in what is shaping up to be one of the most competitive and closely watched elections in recent years.
Voting is scheduled to continue until 4:00 pm at 13,759 polling stations nationwide. Each voter will cast a single vote, selecting from among thousands of candidates representing both major political parties and independent groups.
Nominations and Candidates
Nominations for 336 local government bodies were accepted from March 17 at 8:30 am until March 20 at 12:00 noon, while the submission period for the Mannar, Poonakary, and Dehiattakandiya Pradeshiya Sabhas ran from March 24 to March 27.
Initially, nominations from several parties and independent groups were rejected due to technical issues and legal stipulations. This led to a flurry of legal challenges, prompting the Court of Appeal to intervene and order the Election Commission and Returning Officers to accept the nominations of multiple groups.
As a result, 75,589 candidates are now officially contesting in this high-stakes election, representing a broad spectrum of political ideologies and community interests.
Campaign Spending Limits
In a bid to ensure fairness, the Election Commission also announced campaign spending limits per voter for each candidate. These vary by division:
- Rs. 74 per voter in the Mannar ward (lowest spending limit)
- Rs. 160 per voter in the Lahugala division (highest spending limit)
These spending caps were in effect until the official end of the campaign period at midnight on May 3, 2025.
Voter Eligibility and ID Requirements
The election is being conducted using the 2024 Voters’ Register and the Supplementary List certified on February 1, 2025, covering a total of 17,156,338 eligible voters. The Gampaha District leads with the highest number of registered voters.
To vote, citizens must produce one of ten approved forms of identification, including:
- National Identity Card (old or new)
- Valid passport
- Valid driver’s license
- Government Pensioner’s ID
- Elder’s ID
- Clergy ID
- Letter from the Department of Registration of Persons
- Temporary ID from the Election Commission
- Temporary ID for persons with disabilities
- Temporary license card with a photo
Voters without an accepted form of ID will not be issued a ballot paper.
As per standard election protocol, voters’ left little fingers will be marked with indelible ink to prevent double voting. If a voter is missing that finger, another will be marked appropriately.
Postal Voting and Ballot Paper Distribution
Postal voting was made available to public servants and essential personnel. 648,495 postal vote applications were approved for the 2025 Local Government Elections. Postal voting took place over four days, April 24, 25, 28, and 29 at designated government institutions.
Ballot papers were distributed from April 16 to April 29, and those who haven’t received theirs can still collect them at their nearest post office by providing valid identification. However, even without a physical ballot paper in hand, a voter can still cast their vote by appearing at the polling station with the correct ID.
Each ballot paper features:
- The names and symbols of recognized political parties
- For independent groups: only the label “Independent Group” with a number and symbol no candidate names or division details are printed
Voters must mark a single ‘X’ in the designated space next to their chosen party or independent group. No other markings are permitted, or the ballot will be considered invalid.
Public Holidays for Voting
The Election Commission has issued updated guidelines to government institutions to ensure voters are granted sufficient leave to cast their votes. Employers have been instructed to accommodate employees’ schedules, especially in cases where travel is required to reach designated polling stations.
With a massive number of candidates, strict regulations, and heightened public interest, the 2025 Local Government Elections represent a critical moment for grassroots democracy in Sri Lanka. As the day unfolds, all eyes are on voter turnout, transparency, and the emerging voices that will shape the nation’s local governance in the years ahead.
