The Election Commission (EC) has said that if Provincial Council (PC) Elections are to be held under a fresh delimitation process, the work should commence immediately, as it would take nearly a year to complete.
PC Elections have been on hold for several years due to legal complications arising from an amendment introduced by the United National Front (UNF)-led Government (2015–2020).
Speaking to an Engish daily published in Sri Lanka, EC Chairperson R.M.A.L. Rathnayake said the delimitation process had already been completed once and the report was submitted to Parliament, but it was rejected and not approved.
“In the current situation, it has to be decided whether elections can be held based on that report under the present legal framework. If not, a new delimitation will be required, or else elections must take place under the previous system,” Rathnayake explained.
He further noted that if the Government opts for a new delimitation, it will take close to a year, stressing that the process must begin without delay if elections are to be held soon.
Earlier, Deputy Minister of Public Administration, PCs and Local Government, Prabha Ruwan Senarath, said the Government intended to begin the necessary legal reforms for PC polls after the Local Government (LG) Elections, which were held on 6 May this year. However, no steps have yet been taken either to initiate the reforms or to prepare for the PC Elections.
