The Parliamentary Select Committee reviewing Sri Lanka’s election laws has invited citizens, organizations, and other stakeholders to submit proposals and views on reforms, excluding those related to Provincial Council elections. 

According to a Parliament statement, submissions are open until July 15, 2026.

The Committee, chaired by the Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government, A.H.M.H. Abayaratne, comprises 11 Members of Parliament.

Its mandate is to examine the Registration of Electors Act, Local Authorities Elections Act, Parliamentary Elections Act, and Presidential Elections Act, along with their amendments and special provisions, to assess the need for revision, consolidation, and reform.

The initiative aims to modernize and streamline Sri Lanka’s electoral framework for the Tenth Parliament. 

Proposals can be forwarded to the Secretary to the Committee, Parliament of Sri Lanka, Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, or emailed to legis_com@parliament.lk. (Newswire)

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Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya says she will respect any action taken by the Election Commission against her recent statement in Moratuwa if it is deemed a violation of the Election Law. 

Speaking to reporters after casting her vote at the 2025 Local Government Elections, PM Amarasuriya said she had not made that statement with the intention of breaking the Election Law. 

“At the time, I openly told that our election campaigning activities had concluded and must end. If my statement is in any way considered a violation, then I will respect the Election Commission’s action. It is irrelevant if it is an ordinary person or the Prime Minister; the law is equal and must be applied to me as well,” she said. 

PM Amarasuriya further expressed happiness that even small mistakes are being questioned at present, which she said is a sign of the change in the political culture. 

“Earlier, people were talking only about big issues. Now they are questioning even small matters. This shows a change in the political culture. We have increased the standards. It is proven that the society has more democracy at present,” she added.

The Prime Minister made the statement in response to criticism over her speech in Moratuwa, where she had told NPP party supporters that they can carry out campaigning in subtle ways, even though the silent period of the 2025 Local Government Elections commences. 

“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 had said. 

Raising the matter with the Election Commission, the election monitoring body, the People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) pointed out that it was a violation of the Election Law to carry out propaganda activities during the silent period.

In a letter to the Commission, PAFFREL said that a statement by the Prime Minister on ways to bypass the law was a violation of the Election Law and showed a disregard for the law. 

Stating that such a statement by the Prime Minister, who is a key politician, was a threat to the political culture of the country, 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. (Newswire)

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The Department of Government Information has issued a clarification statement regarding a newspaper report claiming that the National Election Commission had written to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake over a recent statement, deemed a violation of election laws.

The Department of Government Information said that following inquiries made from the parties mentioned in the news report, it has been found that the news was false.

Issuing a statement regarding the headline story of a local newspaper today, the Department of Government Information further said that no such letter had been sent to the President by the Election Commission. 

According to the newspaper, a complaint had been filed with the Election Commission claiming that the President had violated election laws through his recent speech on a political stage ahead of the Local Government Election. 

The newspaper reported that election monitoring bodies had raised concerns over the President’s statement that funds would not be allocated to local government bodies that would not see a majority of National People’s Power (NPP) members being elected.

The election monitoring bodies had informed the Election Commission that the statement by the President, who is the Finance Minister of the country, was a violation of election laws, the newspaper report said. 

The newspaper further said that Election Commission sources had informed that the commission has sent a letter to the President regarding the election law violation.

However, the Department of Government Information confirmed that inquiries carried out in this regard have found that no such letter had been sent to the President by the Election Commission and that the news was false. 

Meanwhile, the National Election Commission has so far not responded to the media report. (Newswire)

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Former Minister Harin Fernando who was arrested over charges of Election Law violations during the 2024 General Election, has been released on bail.

The Badulla Magistrate’s Court released the former Parliamentarian on a surety of Rs. 500,000 today.

Harin Fernando was arrested by the Badulla Police today on charges of violating the Election Laws of the 2024 Parliamentary Election via his ‘Messi 10’ t-shirt campaign in Badulla Town.  

On 11 November, a tense situation was reported in Badulla after the Police attempted to stop political campaigning by Harin Fernando’s supporters.

Fernando and his supporters were seen wearing t-shirts similar to the jersey of international footballer Lionel Messi, bearing the number ‘10’.

Police along with Election Commission officials intervened and requested the former minister’s supporters to remove the t-shirts, stating that it was deemed an indirect campaigning attempt. 

An argument then ensued, with Harin Fernando and his supporters claiming that the t-shirts were not connected to election campaigning, with the former MP going to the extent of removing his t-shirt.

However, the Police and Election Commission officials stated that it was deemed a symbolic reference to the former minister’s election candidacy and was deceptive political campaigning. (Newswire)

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Former Minister Harin Fernando has questioned why action was not initiated against the supporters of the National Peoples’ Power (NPP) who were seen campaigning for the 2024 Parliamentary Election violating Election Laws.

Harin Fernando raised the question while speaking to the media after having recorded a statement with the Badulla Police today.

He recorded a statement over the incident of wearing t-shirts similar to the jersey of international footballer Lionel Messi, bearing the number ‘10’ in Badulla Town, a few days ahead of the General Election.

Showing pictures of NPP supporters wearing red coloured t-shirts during election campaigning, Harin Fernando said the t-shirt he wore did not bear the ‘gas cylinder’ symbol of his party and neither was the number 10 related to his candidacy. 

Stating that the new government was also resorting to old political ways, the former minister said a new law was being followed by the authorities in this case.

Harin Fernando further revealed he was requested to report to the Badulla Police to record a statement regarding the incident, but was not informed of a date, due to which he himself had reported to the Police today.

Following the recording of the statement, Harin Fernando was arrested by the Badulla Police on charges of violating election laws via his ‘Messi 10’ campaign. (Newswire)

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Incidents of election law violations have been reported from 20 districts during the 2024 Parliamentary Election held today, the Police said.

Police Spokesman DIG Nihal Thalduwa said a total of 51 persons, including two election candidates, have been arrested for election law violations.

Addressing the media, he said that the highest number of arrests are related to illegal propaganda, while other violations include the distribution of leaflets and assault. (Newswire)

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Two National Peoples’ Power (NPP) supporters have been imposed a fine for putting up posters in support of Party Leader and Presidential candidate MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake in violation of election laws.

The Police said the suspects had been arrested while putting up election campaign posters of the NPP Leader in the Cinnamon Gardens area in Colombo.

The suspects were produced before the Colombo Magistrate’s Court today, where Magistrate Thilina Gamage imposed a fine of Rs. 1500 each.

The judge had imposed a fine after the suspects had pleaded guilty to the charges. (Newswire)

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