September 16, Colombo (LNW): In a move aimed at strengthening democratic participation, the Cabinet of Ministers has given the green light to initiate a formal review of existing electoral laws with a view to granting voting rights to Sri Lankan citizens residing outside the country.
Currently, under Sri Lanka’s election framework, only those physically present within the country and registered on the electoral roll are eligible to vote. This limitation excludes a significant number of Sri Lankans living overseas—many of whom contribute to the nation economically and socially—from exercising their franchise in national elections.
The government acknowledges that this legal gap contrasts with practices in several other Asian democracies, such as India, Bangladesh, and the Philippines, which have established mechanisms allowing their diaspora communities to vote from abroad.
Recognising the growing demand for more inclusive electoral policies, Sri Lankan authorities now consider it both necessary and timely to revisit these outdated legal provisions.
The Constitution of Sri Lanka places sovereignty firmly in the hands of the people, exercised most directly through the electoral process. However, the absence of enabling laws has meant that this right has not extended beyond national borders, despite the increasing number of Sri Lankans living and working overseas.
To address this, the Cabinet has authorised the Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government to assemble a multi-agency committee. This body will include representatives from the Election Commission, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Labour and Foreign Employment, the Ministry of Tourism, and other relevant institutions. Their mandate will be to conduct a comprehensive study on potential legislative reforms, as well as to propose new legal frameworks that could enable absentee or remote voting for overseas citizens.
