Rasika Peiris has officially assumed duties as Sri Lanka’s new Commissioner General of Elections, marking a major leadership shift inside one of the nation’s most powerful independent institutions.
Rasika Peiris has been appointed as the new Commissioner General of Elections and assumed duties this morning, marking a significant transition in the leadership of the Election Commission of Sri Lanka. His appointment comes at a crucial time when the country is preparing for multiple electoral cycles and public attention is increasingly focused on the independence and integrity of the election administration system. The Commission confirmed that Peiris, a Special Grade Officer of the Sri Lanka Administrative Service, officially took charge following established procedures within the institution.
The Election Commission stated that this appointment follows the retirement of Saman Sri Ratnayake, who concluded his public service career on the thirteenth of November 2025 after reaching the mandatory retirement age of sixty. Ratnayake had served as Commissioner General of Elections since the sixteenth of October 2019. His tenure is remembered for guiding the Commission through several major national elections and handling complex administrative responsibilities. His departure marks the end of a long and distinguished public service career that spanned several decades and earned recognition across the administrative sector.
The Commission highlighted that Rasika Peiris is one of the most senior officers currently serving in the institution, with twenty seven years of continuous work in the field of election administration. His long experience is viewed as a major asset for Sri Lanka’s electoral process, particularly at a time when public trust and transparency are critical keywords in national political discourse. Peiris joined the Sri Lanka Administrative Service on the second of March 1998. Later, he entered the Department of Elections as an Assistant Election Commissioner on the fifteenth of September 1998. His rapid progression through multiple stages of responsibility illustrates his deep understanding of electoral operations.
Over nearly three decades, he has held key positions including Assistant Election Commissioner, Deputy Election Commissioner and Additional Election Commissioner. Each of these roles contributed to strengthening his expertise in voter registration, election logistics, administrative planning and management of polling operations. The Election Commission expressed confidence that Peiris will continue to uphold principles of fairness, neutrality and accountability as he takes over the responsibilities of Commissioner General of Elections at a decisive time for Sri Lanka’s democratic process.
