The National People’s Power (NPP) has won 48 seats in the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC), but has failed to secure a clear majority. 

According to the results for the CMC in the Local Government Elections, the other parties have collectively secured 69 seats.

Among them, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) has won 29 seats and the United National Party (UNP) has secured 13 seats.

The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) has won 05 seats, the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) 04 seats, and the Sarvajana Balaya 02 seats. (Newswire)

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The following is a comparison between the district-wise final results of the 2024 Parliamentary Election and the 2025 Local Government Election.

The post Parliament & Local Council district final results comparisons appeared first on Newswire.

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)

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President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who was in Vietnam this morning attending the Vesak Festival, returned to Sri Lanka and cast his vote in the ongoing Local Government Election. 

The President arrived at his respective Polling centre shortly after landing to fulfil his civic duty. (Newswire)

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Voting for the 2025 Local Government Election, which commenced at 07.00 am, is currently underway at 13,759 polling stations to elect representatives for 339 Local Government institutions. 

According to Returning Officers, the voter turnout as of 12.00 pm is as follows;

Colombo – 28%

Kegalle – 33%

Digamadulla – 31%

Puttalam – 30%

Anuradhapura – 30%

Polonnaruwa – 34%

Badulla – 36%

Ratnapura – 30%

Mannar – 40%

Trincomalee – 36%

Galle – 35%

Matara 42%

Kurunegala – 30%

Nuwara Eliya – 32% (Newswire)

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Voting for the 2025 Local Government Election commenced at 07.00 am today and will conclude at 04.00 pm.

The public is casting their ballots across 13,759 polling stations to elect representatives for 339 Local Government institutions. 

According to Returning Officers, the voter turnout as of 09.00 am is as follows;

Jaffna – 6%

Mannar – 15%

Vavuniya – 30%

Digamadulla – 12.5%

Anuradhapura – 15%

Monaragala – 15%

Badulla – 20%

Nuwara Eliya – 20%

Kegalle – 11%

Matara – 20% (Newswire)

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Election monitoring body, the People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) has directed the attention of the National Election Commission to PM Harini Amarasuriya’s recent statement directing party supporters on ways to conduct propaganda during the silent period of the Local Government Elections. 

In a letter to the Election Commission, PAFFREL pointed out that the silent period of the Local Government Elections commenced from midnight on 03 May. 

PAFFREL revealed that during a political rally in Moratuwa on Saturday, hours before the silent period commenced, PM Harini Amarasuriya had told National People’s Power (NPP) party supporters that they can carry out campaigning in subtle ways.

“In another 04 hours, we enter the silent period. But you don’t need to become silent. You can make phone calls and say out loud certain words when you walk on the road. You can do this,” the PM said. 

Pointing out that it was a violation of the election law to carry out propaganda activities during the silent period, PAFFREL deemed a statement by the Prime Minister on ways to bypass the law a violation of the election law and disregard for the law. 

PAFFREL further said that such a statement by the Prime Minister, who is a key politician, was a threat to the good political culture of the country. 

As such, PAFFREL called on the Election Commission to conduct a probe and take necessary action, as this was considered a threat to a free and fair election. 

The matter has been raised in view of the 2025 Local Government Elections scheduled to be held tomorrow (06 May). (Newswire)

PM Harini advises their party members on how to break the election laws. #Lka pic.twitter.com/LtBlRtciR2

— Manjula Basnayake (@BasnayakeM) May 5, 2025

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The Ministry of Education has announced that some state schools will remain closed on Wednesday, 07 May 2025, following the 2025 Local Government Elections.

According to the Education Ministry, all state schools are closed today (05 May) and tomorrow (06 May) in view of the 2025 Local Government Elections, scheduled for tomorrow.

The Education Ministry further said that most schools will reopen following the elections, on 07 May, while some schools will continue to remain closed. 

The ministry has announced the list of schools that will remain closed on 07 May 2025. (Newswire)

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The National Election Commission has issued a statement outlining activities that will be deemed misconduct during voting at the upcoming Local Government Elections. 

According to the Election Commission, the public has been urged to avoid taking photographs and videos of polling-related activities.

The public has also been informed to refrain from sharing photographs or videos of polling centres and marked ballots on social media. 

The Election Commission further states that using mobile phones, the possession of firearms, smoking and drinking, or entering the polling station under the influence of alcohol will be deemed misconduct.

The Local Government Election will be held tomorrow, 06 May 2025. (Newswire)

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The Sri Lanka Police has received 04 complaints related to the upcoming Local Government Election, in the 24 hours ending at 06.00 am today. 

According to the Police, 02 complaints have been received related to election violence and two regarding election law violations.

The Police said two candidates and four supporters have been arrested during this period. 

The Sri Lanka Police has received a total of 168 election-related complaints from 03 March 2025 to 16 April 2025. 

Among the complaints, 36 are concerning election violence and 132 are related to election law violations.

During this period, 18 candidates and 61 supporters have been arrested, while 14 vehicles have been taken into Police custody.

The 2025 Local Government Election is scheduled to be held on 06 May 2025. (Newswire)

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The Court of Appeal today ordered the acceptance of 35 more nominations for the Local Government Elections, which were previously rejected.

Accordingly, the relevant Returning Officers have been ordered to accept the nominations. 

Last week, the Court of Appeal ordered the acceptance of 37 nominations for the Local Government Elections that had been previously rejected.

The orders are being issued as the Court of Appeal delivers its verdicts regarding petitions that were filed on the rejection of nominations for the 2025 Local Government Elections. (Newswire)

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The Court of Appeal has issued a temporary order halting election-related proceedings at the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) and several other local government bodies.

Accordingly, election-related activities of the Harispattuwa, Panwila, Pathadumbara, Udapalatha, and Kuliyapitiya Local Councils have also been suspended.

This move follows writ petitions filed by multiple political parties and independent groups who contested the rejection of their nominations.

The Court granted leave to proceed with the petitions, prompting the issuance of the interim order.

The court has instructed that responses opposing the petitions be submitted by May 5th.

Any counter-responses must be filed by May 7th.

The petitions are set to be reviewed on May 16th.

The interim order will remain in place until the petitions are fully examined. (Newswire)

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The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka has dismissed over 50 petitions filed challenging the rejection of nomination papers for the 2025 Local Government Elections.

The court today dismissed 53 writ applications and 06 Fundamental Rights (FR) petitions that were filed by political parties.

This comes in the backdrop of the Court of Appeal having ordered the acceptance of 37 nominations for the Local Government Elections that had been previously rejected.

The court today ordered the relevant returning officers to accept the said rejected nominations. 

The order was issued when the Court of Appeal today delivered its verdict regarding the petitions that were filed on the rejection of nominations for the 2025 Local Government Elections. 

Petitions were filed by recognized political parties and independent groups challenging the rejection of their nominations on the grounds of not submitting certified copies of birth certificates, not formally submitting an oath, and only submitting photocopies of birth certificates. (Newswire)

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The Court of Appeal has ordered the acceptance of 37 nominations for the Local Government Elections that had been previously rejected.

The court ordered the relevant returning officers to accept the said rejected nominations. 

The order was issued when the Court of Appeal today delivered its verdict regarding the petitions that were filed on the rejection of nominations for the 2025 Local Government Elections. 

Petitions were filed by recognized political parties and independent groups challenging the rejection of their nominations on the grounds of not submitting certified copies of birth certificates, not formally submitting an oath, and only submitting photocopies of birth certificates. (Newswire)

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The Sri Lanka Police has received three more election-related complaints in the last two days. 

According to the Police, a complaint related to election violence was reported in the Horana area on Wednesday (26 Mar)

Per the complaint, individuals on a motorcycle had verbally abused and threatened a woman in the area. 

A complaint related to election law violation was reported from the Vallachchenai area in Batticaloa on Wednesday. 

It was reported that rice, sarongs, and cash had been distributed to houses in the area. 

A complaint related to election law violation was reported from the Monaragala area on Thursday (27 Mar).

Per the complaint, election propaganda hoardings had been put up in the vicinity of temples near Aligiyawatte, Maragalawatte, Kumarawatte, and Kirimandala Mawatha.

The relevant Police Stations are conducting investigations into the complaints. (Newswire)

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The National Election Commission has announced that the elections of three Pradeshiya Sabhas will be held on 06 May 2025.

The Pradeshiya Sabhas for which elections have been announced are as follows;

• Poonakary Pradeshiya Sabha (Kilinochchi District)
• Mannar Pradeshiya Sabha (Mannar District)
• Dehiattakandiya Pradeshiya Sabha (Ampara District)

Issuing a statement, the Election Commission said nominations were called for the three Pradeshiya Sabhas on 10 March 2025. 

The acceptance of nominations concluded at 12.00 noon today, (27 Mar), while the placing of deposits by candidates ended yesterday. 

The elections of the three Pradeshiya Sabhas will be held alongside the Local Government Elections, which are also scheduled for 06 May 2025. (Newswire) 

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Chairman of the Commission stated that alternative dates—April 28 and 29—have been allocated for those unable to cast their postal votes on the initially scheduled days. (Newswire)

The post Postal voting dates announced for Local Council Election appeared first on Newswire.

Sri Lanka Police received two (02) election-related complaints on Monday from the Polonnaruwa and Matale areas ahead of the upcoming local government elections.

The complaints have been filed regarding election law violations, while no complaints of election violence have been reported.

A candidate from the Siripura area in Polonnaruwa has filed a complaint claiming that a video has been circulated on Facebook causing harm to his reputation. 

A complaint had been filed on the large number of cutouts displayed of a candidate in the Mahawela area in Matale. 

The Local Government Elections for 336 local institutions will be held on 06 May 2025. (Newswire)

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Former Vice Chairman of the Kottikawatta-Mulleriyawa Pradeshiya Sabha, journalist Prince Gunasekara, has quit the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) and will contest the upcoming local government elections under the independent ‘TV’ symbol.

Gunasekara, who has remained an undefeated member of the Kottikawatta-Mulleriyawa Pradeshiya Sabha since 1994, said he decided to leave the party following incidents during the 2022 Aragalaya (struggle) and due to political dishonesty within the party.

“I left SLPP when they started attacking the youth. During the previous administration, I was supposed to be given the chairman position, but they deceived the people by saying it would be given after two years. This party does not recognize capable individuals,” Gunasekara said.

He further stated that professionals from the area, including teachers, doctors, and engineers, urged him to form an alternative political movement.

“That’s why I am leading a very capable team under the ‘TV’ symbol. We are confident of securing votes from all parts of the electorate. Since we are an independent group, everyone can vote for us without any party restrictions,” he added. (Newswire)

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The acceptance of nominations for the Mannar, Poonakary, and Dehiattakandiya Pradeshiya Sabha Elections will commence today. 

According to the National Election Commission, the acceptance of nominations will conclude at 12.00 noon on 27 March 2025.

Meanwhile, the placing of deposits by candidates will end at 12.00 noon on 26 March 2025.

The Election Commission states there was a delay in beginning the acceptance of nominations for the three Pradeshiya Sabhas due to a court order. (Newswire)

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