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Select Committee seeks clarifications amid legal hurdles to ...
The Island | April 11, 2026 A Parliamentary Select Committee, tasked with determining the electoral system for Provincial Council elections, has sought clarifications from the Attorney General's Department and the Election Commission, as legal and procedural barriers continue to stall the long-delayed polls. - Minister Vijitha Herath chairing the Select Committee at the parliamentary complexThe Committee, chaired by Minister Vijitha Herath, met for the second time in Parliament last Tuesday (07), where election officials highlighted key shortcomings in the current reform process.Officials of the Election Commission informed the Committee that the reform of the Provincial Council electoral system remains incomplete, primarily due to the failure to finalise constituency delimitation required to implement the mixed proportional representation system introduced under the 2017 Amendment No. 17. This lapse, they said, has created legal impediments preventing the conduct of elections. This story is from the April 11, 2026 edition of The Island. Subscribe to Magzter GOLD to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 10,000+ magazines and newspapers. Already a subscriber? Sign In
PSC explores legal pathways to break Provincial Council election ...
A Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) chaired by Minister Vijitha Herath is weighing fresh legal options to resolve the long-stalled Provincial Council elections, with officials warning that unresolved delimitation issues under the 2017 electoral reforms continue to block the process. The PSC tasked with reviewing the electoral system for Provincial Council polls has sought legal and procedural clarity from the Attorney General’s Department and the Elections Secretariat as it attempts to break a prolonged impasse. At its second meeting held in Parliament on 7 April, the Committee was informed by Elections Secretariat officials that the core obstacle stems from the incomplete delimitation process required to implement the Mixed Proportional Representation (MPR) system introduced under the Provincial Council Elections (Amendment) Act No. 17 of 2017. Officials noted that Parliament’s failure to approve the original delimitation report triggered the appointment of a five-member review committee headed by the Prime Minister. Although mandated to submit its report to the President within two months, the committee has yet to do so, leaving the legal framework incomplete and effectively stalling the election process. As a result, the Elections Secretariat emphasised that there are currently no provisions in place to conduct Provincial Council elections under the existing law. Committee members explored alternative legal avenues, including the possibility of repealing the 2017 Amendment Act and reverting to the previous electoral framework. The Attorney General’s Department confirmed that such a move is legally feasible through the re-enactment of the original law. Members also underscored the need for any revised legislation to incorporate provisions ensuring greater representation of women and youth. The Committee further deliberated on conducting elections under the earlier proportional representation system, as proposed in a Private Member’s Bill by Shanakkian Rajaputthiram Rasamanikkam. Chairman Herath directed the Attorney General’s Department to submit a detailed report examining Supreme Court rulings related to the 2017 Amendment Act, the legal barriers to holding elections, and the options available to address them. The PSC also decided to summon officials from the Delimitation Commission at its next sitting as it moves to fast-track solutions to one of Sri Lanka’s longest-pending electoral issues. The meeting was attended by Deputy Ministers Arun Hemacha...
Parliament to Convene Tomorrow – Committee on Parliamentary ...
Jagath Wickramaratne, the Speaker expressed his appreciation for the continued support extended by the IMF to Sri Lanka during its economic recovery process. He ...
Sri Lanka's provincial elections to be delayed further
Colombo, Apr 10 (PTI) Council elections in Sri Lanka's nine provinces, pending since 2014, are set be delayed further as a cross-party select committee has asked the legal position to understand the difficulties in holding polls, it was announced Friday. A statement from the Parliament's press ...
