January 27, Colombo (LNW): Minister Bimal Rathnayake has expressed optimism that the upcoming Local Government (LG) elections will be held in Sri Lanka during either the second or fourth week of April 2025.
Speaking to the press in Jaffna, the Minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring the elections proceed as planned.
Rathnayake revealed that the government, in collaboration with all political parties, has already submitted a draft bill to Parliament that seeks to amend the Local Authorities Elections Act, facilitating the much-awaited elections.
This move follows extensive discussions and agreement amongst political leaders, signalling a united front for the smooth conduct of the local elections.
Whilst acknowledging that several petitions have been lodged in court by different parties, the Minister was confident that these legal proceedings would not create significant obstacles.
“Although various parties have taken their concerns to the courts, we do not anticipate these petitions hindering the election process,” Rathnayake stated. “The judiciary will reach its decision in due course, but we are hopeful that it will not delay the elections significantly, as the court has a set timeframe to issue its verdict.”
Rathnayake also emphasised that the Election Commission, with all legal matters taken into consideration, is expected to set the election date for either mid-April or towards the end of the month.
He noted, “We firmly believe that the elections will be held in the second or fourth week of April, allowing the local government bodies to be formed promptly.”
In addition to his comments on the LG elections, the Minister also mentioned the government’s plans for provincial council elections.
He reassured the public that the government intends to proceed with these elections for the Northern Province and across the country without further delays, underlining the administration’s commitment to fulfilling its electoral promises.
