May 06, Colombo (LNW): Millions of Sri Lankans began casting their votes today as the 2025 Local Government Elections officially got underway after a seven-year delay.
The country is electing representatives for 339 of its 341 local authorities, with voting commencing at 7:00 a.m. across 13,759 polling centres island-wide.
Polling will not be held for the Kalmunai Municipal Council due to an unresolved court case, while elections for the Elpitiya Pradeshiya Sabha concluded earlier.
This year’s polls, conducted under a mixed electoral system, will see 60 per cent of candidates elected by wards and 40 per cent through proportional representation.
A total of 17,156,338 registered voters are eligible to participate in today’s vote, which features a record 75,589 candidates drawn from 49 political parties and 257 independent groups. The Election Commission completed its final logistics operations, including ballot box distribution, on May 5.
Election monitoring body PAFFREL has deployed 3,000 observers to oversee the process. Executive Director Rohana Hettiarachchi emphasised that their presence is aimed at ensuring transparency and accountability throughout the day’s proceedings.
To encourage voter turnout, both public and private institutions have been instructed to permit staff time off to vote. Depending on travel distance, leave allowances range from a half-day to two full days.
Voters must present valid identification—such as a national identity card, passport, or temporary election ID—to receive a ballot, although an official polling card is not mandatory.
Each ballot lists only the names and symbols of the parties and groups in contention. Voters must mark a single cross (X) beside their preferred option; any additional marks or deviations will invalidate the vote.
Security has been intensified, with over 65,000 police personnel deployed nationwide. Police Media Spokesperson SSP Buddhika Manathunga warned that firm legal measures would be taken against any breaches of election regulations.
In anticipation of weather-related or emergency incidents, the Disaster Management Centre has activated a dedicated unit to coordinate response efforts and ensure that voting proceeds without disruption.
Authorities have called on citizens to participate in the process peacefully and uphold the principles of democracy.
