Despite ongoing pressure to restore democratic institutions, the Sri Lankan government remains indecisive on holding Provincial Council elections. With the old electoral system obsolete and no new one in place, discussions now revolve around what steps to take next, not when elections will actually happen.
The Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government has held several rounds of internal discussions to determine the future course of action regarding long-overdue Provincial Council elections. However, rather than arriving at a clear decision, the focus appears to be shifting from “when” to “what now.”
Sources close to the Ministry report that complex issues surrounding delimitation continue to dominate conversations. While some administrative groundwork is being laid, a lack of political consensus and a viable electoral framework means the elections are far from imminent.
When asked about the matter, Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government, Professor Chandana Abeyratne, stated that Provincial Council elections could not be held under the outdated proportional representation system. A replacement system has yet to be formulated, and current discussions are centered around identifying the way forward.
He explained, “We have been discussing the delimitation issues. This matter has been brought up even within the Advisory Committee. While monitoring the situation closely, we still haven’t reached a definitive conclusion. There is no firm decision yet on whether fresh delimitation activities will be undertaken. Those decisions will emerge from ongoing discussions.”
Despite the uncertainty, the Minister emphasized the importance of reinstating democratic processes. “Provincial Council elections must be held. The people must be given that democratic space. It has been nearly seven or eight years since the last elections. Our intention is to ensure democratic institutions are reestablished and strengthened. Work is being done towards achieving that.”
Nevertheless, he reiterated that the old system was no longer applicable. “It’s simply not possible to conduct elections using the previous proportional representation model. A new electoral mechanism hasn’t been finalized yet. What’s currently being debated isn’t about holding the elections, but rather about what approach we must take under the present circumstances.”
The government’s prolonged indecision is drawing concern from observers who argue that delaying elections further undermines the democratic foundation of local governance. With no clear roadmap and only vague commitments to future reforms, Sri Lanka’s Provincial Council system remains in political limbo.
