Election monitoring body, the People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL), says voter turnout for the 2025 Local Government Elections was not very high, remaining between 55-60%.
Issuing a statement, PAFFREL said it has received 119 complaints, of which 80 are confirmed and 39 are unconfirmed, on Election Day.
Among these, 116 complaints were in violation of election laws, including illegal election propaganda and attempts to influence the voters.
Several incidents of violation of election laws were reported from Rathgama, Kotte, Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Kesbewa, Anuradhapura, Badulla, Wennappuwa, Naula, Hambantota, Pudaluoya, Colombo, Kalutara, Kuliyapitiya, Biyagama, Galle, Hikkaduwa, Madukanda, Nochchiyagama, Matara, Katana, Siyambalapitiya, Mathugama, Beruwala, Yatiyantota, and Awissawella. These incidents ranged from illegal election propaganda and transportation of voters on Election Day to influencing voters.
There were three incidents of violence, which were reported as assaults from Norochcholai, Puttalam, and Daraniyagala.
PAFFREL said that, nevertheless, there were no incidents or situations during the Election Day that had a significant impact on polling.
Overall, voting processes and election day management were orderly without disruptions, PAFFREL added.
The 2025 Local Government Election was held today across 13,759 polling stations to elect representatives for 339 Local Government institutions. (Newswire)
