May 24, Colombo (LNW): JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva has indicated that the long-delayed Provincial Council Elections are likely to take place next year, provided the country does not face any further major disruptions or financial emergencies.
Speaking during the opening ceremony of the National People’s Power (NPP) office in Jaffna, Silva explained that the Government had originally planned to conduct the elections this year and had even set aside funding through the national Budget for that purpose.
However, he said the administration was compelled to divert a substantial portion of state funds towards emergency relief and rehabilitation work following the severe impact of the recent “Ditwah” cyclone and related adverse weather conditions.
According to Silva, nearly Rs. 500 billion had to be redirected to support affected communities, restore infrastructure and manage recovery operations across several districts.
The JVP General Secretary also acknowledged that legal and administrative complications continue to delay the election process. He claimed that amendments introduced to the Provincial Council electoral framework during the tenure of former President Ranil Wickremesinghe had created uncertainty over the legal mechanism under which the polls should now be conducted.
Silva stated that a Parliamentary Committee has been tasked with reviewing the relevant legislation and recommending a clear legal pathway to proceed with the elections. He noted that the Government was keen to avoid further constitutional disputes or procedural challenges before announcing an official election timetable.
He further stressed that the ruling coalition remained committed to restoring provincial-level democratic representation, adding that resolving the legal issues was essential to ensuring a fair and credible electoral process.
“If the current situation remains stable and no new crises emerge, we are hopeful that Provincial Council Elections can be organised sometime next year,” Silva told supporters at the event.
