May 04, Colombo (LNW): With the local government elections scheduled for May 06, 2025, the campaign period officially came to an end at midnight on May 03, ushering in a legally mandated ‘silence period’.
This interval, intended to preserve the integrity of the electoral process, bars all forms of canvassing and political promotion until the conclusion of voting.
According to the Election Commission, all candidates and political entities have been explicitly instructed to refrain from any form of campaigning during this cooling-off period.
Commissioner General of Elections, Saman Sri Ratnayake, reaffirmed that the rules are non-negotiable and will be applied uniformly across the island.
Law enforcement has also stepped in to bolster compliance. The Police Department, through its media spokesperson Senior Superintendent of Police Buddhika Manatunga, announced that any individual or group found violating the campaign ban—such as by displaying posters, banners or other promotional materials—will be subject to immediate legal action.
The police have begun deploying personnel to monitor adherence, with more than 65,000 officers assigned to election-related duties.
As the nation prepares for one of its most extensive grassroots electoral exercises, polling will be held to elect representatives to 339 local government bodies across the country.
Balloting will take place on Tuesday (06) from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., offering over 17 million eligible citizens the opportunity to cast their vote.
This year’s local government election has drawn considerable attention due to its scale and diversity of candidates. A staggering 75,589 contenders representing various political parties and independent groups are in the fray, making it one of the most contested local elections in recent memory.
To ensure transparency and fairness in the process, the independent election monitoring body People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) has announced the deployment of approximately 3,000 observers.
These individuals will be stationed across multiple regions to monitor polling stations, assess the conduct of election officials, and report any irregularities or incidents of concern.
Executive Director Rohana Hettiarachchi confirmed that PAFFREL’s efforts are aimed at enhancing public confidence in the democratic process and ensuring that electoral standards are upheld.
