October 06, Colombo (LNW): Whispers of a provincial council election in April 2026 have sparked a political chain reaction. Still, the Election Commission is pouring cold water on the timeline, even as the opposition begins strategising for a contest that may not materialise.
While rumours suggest the government is eyeing an April date ahead of the New Year celebrations, an Election Commission official told LNW on condition of anonymity that holding elections under the current system by that deadline would be “difficult.” The challenge centres on unresolved delimitation issues, the redrawing of electoral boundaries, that must be addressed before implementing the new framework.
The government has remained conspicuously silent on the matter. Sources close to the JVP confirmed that no definitive decision has been made, leaving political parties and voters in a state of uncertainty.
Yet the opposition isn’t waiting for clarity. A prominent figure from the previous administration has already approached two respected individuals to serve as chief minister candidates for the Western and Southern provinces, signalling confidence that elections are inevitable.
The disconnect is stark, while the Election Commission grapples with technical hurdles and the government stays mum, opposition forces are treating the contest as a foregone conclusion. Provincial councils have been without elected representatives for years, making any movement toward elections politically significant, if logistically uncertain.
