The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) has announced that it will take strict disciplinary action against party members who supported the National People’s Power (NPP) during the recent budget approvals in local government bodies.

Issuing an official statement, the SLFP confirmed that it has already temporarily suspended the party membership of those who voted in favour of the NPP.

The SLFP further stated that it has begun seeking explanations from the concerned members and will proceed with further disciplinary measures based on their responses. (Newswire)

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The National People’s Power (NPP) has established control in over 219 local government institutions across Sri Lanka, it was reported.

Accordingly, this includes 63 councils where no single party secured a clear majority, but where the NPP managed to form administrative control.

Meanwhile, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) and allied opposition parties currently hold power in 87 local councils.

Among the 30 local councils formed by the SJB, 28 have no outright majority, but were formed through significant coalition or alliance-driven governance structures.

However, the Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) has secured authority in 20 local councils, marking the third-highest number of local bodies under the control of a single party. 

As of yesterday, independent groups or other political parties have established control in 19 local councils. 

Among them, the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) and Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) have established power in 06 local councils each, the Ceylon Workers’ Congress (CWC) in 03 local councils, and the United National Party (UNP) and the United People’s Front (UPA) in 02 local councils each.

The formation of 18 local councils has been postponed under the directive of court orders due to various reasons. 

Following the 2025 local government elections held on 06 May, 315 out of the 339 local government authorities have been formed, as of now. (Newswire)

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The opposition, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), has established power in the Vengalacheddikulam Pradeshiya Sabha in the Vavuniya District and the Ayagama Pradeshiya Sabha in Ratnapura. 

During the inaugural session of the Vengalacheddikulam Pradeshiya Sabha, SJB candidate T. Imthiaz was elected Chairman after securing a majority of votes. 

SJB candidate Upul Piyasena was elected Chairman of the Ayagama Pradeshiya Sabha during elections held at its inaugural session. 

The SJB had secured a majority of seats in both local councils following the 2025 Local Government Elections. (Newswire)

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The National People’s Power (NPP) has established power in the Balangoda Urban Council and the Thanamalvila Pradeshiya Sabha. 

The NPP secured a majority of votes in the elections held during the inaugural sessions of the two local councils today. 

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) media unit confirmed that, accordingly, the NPP has secured control of a total of 200 local councils so far. (Newswire)

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The leadership of the Ceylon Workers’ Congress (CWC) has decided to extend support to and obtain the help of the National People’s Power (NPP) to establish power in local authorities in the Nuwara Eliya District, where both parties are unable to take control. 

CWC President, Senthil Thondaman, told Newswire that as such, for local councils where the CWC has secured a majority of seats in the 2025 Local Government Elections and is unable to form the council, it will obtain the support of the NPP to establish power.

He further said that, likewise, in local councils where the NPP has secured a majority of seats and is unable to form the council, it will be supported by the CWC to establish power. (Newswire)

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The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) has established power in the Kinniya Urban Council and the Neluwa Pradeshiya Sabha, securing a majority of votes. 

SJB candidate Mohammad Mahdhi was elected Mayor of the Kinniya Urban Council in Trincomalee after securing a majority of votes during the election held today. 

Meanwhile, SJB candidate Ajith Chandana was elected Chairman of the Neluwa Pradeshiya Sabha in Galle. 

He was elected after securing a majority of votes during the election held today at the council, in which the SJB had already secured a majority in the 2025 Local Government Elections. (Newswire)

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UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe has called for the introduction of new faces to revitalize the party, following its performance at the local government elections, where it secured 488,406 votes, amounting to 4.69%.

“It wasn’t me who increased the votes; I handed over the task to a committee, and they did the work. But what’s clear now is that people are looking for something new. We need to bring in fresh faces and move forward,” Wickremesinghe said.

His comments signal a potential reshaping of the party’s image and leadership as it looks to rebuild support. (Newswire)

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Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) Leader MP Mano Ganesan says President Anura Kumara Dissanayake must blame himself for the current power struggle at Local Councils. 

In a post on ‘X’, MP Ganesan pointed out that the existing Local Government Act is faulty, which was confirmed during the previous elections. 

He further said that President Dissanayake says parties that obtained the highest numbers should be allowed to form councils even if they are short of 50%, but the current law has no such provision.  

MP Ganesan said the current law was brought in good faith to provide representation to women and pave the way for ward-based members, but the current system has failed. 

“We knew it after experimenting with it last time. Hence, all parties, including the JVP, decided to amend the law to bring the total number of LG members from 8500 to nearly 5000 and amend certain other clauses too. All parties unanimously agreed to this in the last Electoral Reform Select Committee. It was none other than Anura Kumara Dissanayake who was the JVP member in the committee,” MP Ganesan said. 

The TPA Leader further said that under the circumstances, the NPP government could have amended the Act with their 159 majority, together with the opposition’s support.

“But they were in an unbelievable hurry to conduct elections as soon as possible for political reasons. Hence, President Dissanayake should blame himself for the clumsy, awkward situation today,” MP Ganesan added. (Newswire)

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The Opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) and the United National Party (UNP) have held discussions today on establishing power in local councils following the 2025 Local Government Elections. 

According to a joint statement issued by the SJB and UNP, a special discussion was held on the policies related to the matter. 

The statement further says that a common consensus was reached to establish power in local councils with the support of other opposition political parties. 

The meeting was held at the Office of the Opposition Leader, attended by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa. (Newswire)

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President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has approved the establishment of investigative units to combat corruption and irregularities in local government institutions. 

The approval was granted following a request made by Provincial Governors during a meeting at the President’s Office today (15 May). 

During the discussion, it was noted that three times the fund from last year has been allocated to local councils this year.

As such, the Provincial Governors pointed out the importance of the systematic use and control of the allocated funds. (Newswire)

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Sarvajana Balaya Leader, MP Dilith Jayaweera, says he has requested the United National Party (UNP) to correct their statement mentioning his name, adding that the claim that they had contacted him via telephone during a recent meeting was false. 

Issuing a statement on social media, MP Jayaweera said the UNP had claimed that he had participated via telephone call in a meeting chaired by UNP Leader and former President Ranil Wickremesinghe, along with several other opposition parties.

The UNP-led meeting had been held to discuss establishing power in all local government institutions, including municipal councils, urban councils and regional councils, where the National People’s Power (NPP) had failed to secure a majority.

Providing details of the meeting, the UNP had outlined all the opposition parties and their members who had participated in the discussion, adding that Sarvajana Balaya Leader, MP Dilith Jayaweera, had joined via a telephone call. 

Refuting the claim, MP Dilith Jayaweera said the statement was false, and that he has requested UNP Chairman Wajira Abeywardana to rectify this immediately, to which he had agreed to take action. (Newswire)

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The official term of local councils, for which members were elected in the recently held 2025 Local Government Elections, will commence on 02 June 2025. 

Political parties and independent groups that secured majorities in local authorities have been requested to submit the names of individuals nominated for the positions of Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Chairman and Vice Chairman of those councils.

Elections Commission Chairman R.M.A.L. Rathnayake has announced that the names of those nominated for the key positions of the local councils must be submitted within one week. 

Rathnayake further said that the names of the elected members must be gazetted at the Divisional level, prior to convening the inaugural meetings of the local councils. 

Where there is no majority in a local council, a vote will take place when the council is convened for the first time, on 02 June. (Newswire)

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Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath says there are capable and community-focused individuals among independent groups and opposition party candidates who were elected in the recent local government elections.

Responding to a question about councils where the NPP emerged as the leading party but lacks an outright majority, Herath said discussions are ongoing to form alliances with such individuals to secure control.

He made the remarks while speaking to the media. There are over 100 local councils where the NPP will need the support of members from other parties or independent groups to establish administrations. (Newswire)

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The President hinting at withholding funds before an election is not just unethical, it is an abuse of office, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa said, calling out President Anura Kumara Dissanayake over his recent statement on the allocation of funds for Local Councils.

Taking to ‘X’, MP Premadasa said system change isn’t just a slogan to preach to others, pointing out that it also includes the system of negativity they have been breeding for decades. 

“Not one corruption case was filed by the NPP while in Opposition, and no action taken so far in power against corruption. Talk is indeed cheap,” MP Premadasa added.

His comments come in response to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s statement during a political rally for the Local Government Councils, that he would easily allocate money to councils governed by the NPP and not to others. 

While addressing a rally organised for the upcoming local government elections, the President said that approving funds for local councils under NPP control can be done instantly. 

However, the same cannot be done for councils run by other parties, as they have been found to be corrupt in the past and require thorough consideration, he added.

The statement, which was made in view of the Local Government Elections scheduled for 06 May 2025, has caused an uproar, with several politicians raising concerns. (Newswire)

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Over 17 million voters are eligible to cast ballots in the Local Government Elections, Commissioner General of Elections Saman Sri Rathnayake said. 

Saman Sri Rathnayake said a total of 17,296,330 voters are eligible to cast their ballots for 336 local government institutions.

He made the remarks while addressing the media yesterday, following discussions held with District Returning Officers, and Deputy and Assistant Election Commissioners on the necessary measures for the upcoming polls.

“The call for nominations for 336 local government institutions has now been finalized. Accordingly, elections will be held to elect members for 4,872 Divisions. A total of 17,296,330 voters have been registered,” he added. (Newswire)

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The government expects to hold the Local Government Elections in April this year, Minister Bimal Rathnayake said.

According to the minister, it is expected that the Election Commission will take steps to hold the elections in the second or fourth week of April. 

Speaking in Jaffna, the Minister said that all parties have jointly submitted the Draft Bill to Parliament for the amendment of the Local Authorities Elections Act to conduct the Local Government elections.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has completed hearing the objection that was filed challenging the Local Government Elections (Amendment) Bill.

The Supreme Court has announced that the order, which has not been publicly revealed yet, will be communicated directly to the Speaker of the Parliament. 

The Local government elections have not been held in Sri Lanka since 2018. The elections which were scheduled to be held in 2022, were postponed to 2023 due to the economic crisis, while court rulings have resulted in the elections being further postponed.

Following the recent victory at the Presidential and Parliamentary elections, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has indicated the local government polls would be held prior to April this year. (Newswire)

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The Draft Bill for the Amendment of the Local Authorities Elections Act to enable the cancellation of nominations submitted for the 2023 polls and call for fresh nominations will be presented to the Parliament tomorrow (09 Jan), Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government Chandana Abeyratne said.

According to the Mawbima newspaper, Minister Chandana Abeyratne has expressed hope in getting the approval of the Parliament for the Draft Bill soon.

He further said that the government intended to conduct the Local Council Elections before the April Sinhala and Tamil New Year. 

Stating that there were no obstacles to conducting the election, Minister Chandana Abeyratne said the government was able to disburse the necessary funds upon request by the Election Commission. 

He noted that it is expected that between Rs. 8 to Rs. 12 Billion will be required to conduct the Local Council Elections. 

His comments come as the Draft Bill for the Amendment of the Local Authorities Elections Act to enable the cancellation of nominations submitted for the 2023 polls and call for fresh nominations was Gazetted this week. 

The Draft Bill was reportedly published in the Government Gazette as per the order of the Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government.

As per the said bill, nomination papers submitted for the Local Government Elections, which were scheduled to be held on March 09, 2023, will become invalid, while it also provides for the refund of deposits made in respect of candidates nominated by a political party or independent group.

The bill is scheduled to be implemented after it is presented to Parliament and passed, with the Election Commission to announce the date for calling fresh nominations for the Local Government Elections 3 months before the date of commencement of the said Act. (Newswire)

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Opposition Leader MP Sajith Premadasa has requested the government to provide computers to schools from the Rs. 10 million each allocated to local councils in anticipation of the elections.

Addressing the Parliament today, MP Premadasa said Rs. 10 million has been allocated for local councils under the Advisory Committee Programme targeting upcoming elections.

Pointing out that the Education Minister had revealed that 10 smart classrooms could be provided with the allocated money, MP Premadasa highlighted that 3,140 such smart classrooms can be established by the 341 local councils in Sri Lanka with the allocated money.

The Opposition Leader said objections have been raised by several parties, including the National Election Commission, regarding the sum of money allocated to Local Councils for the elections.

Calling on the Parliament to conduct an inquiry in this regard, MP Premadasa further requested the authorities to utilise the allocated money to provide computers for schools. (Newswire)

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The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka has determined that it is necessary to pass three Bills titled “Pradeshiya Sabha (Amendment), “Urban Councils (Amendment)” and “Municipal Councils (Amendment)” by a special majority in Parliament and approved by the People at a Referendum.

The Supreme Court determination was announced in Parliament today by Speaker of the House MP Mahinda Yapa Abeywardana.

The Speaker informed Parliament of the determination of the Supreme Court in respect of the three Bills which had been challenged at the Supreme Court in terms of Article 121(1) of the Constitution. 

Accordingly, the Supreme Court has determined that Clause 2 of all these three Bills is inconsistent with Articles 1, 12(1), 82, 83 and 104B of the Constitution and therefore, it is necessary to pass these Bills by a special majority in Parliament and approved by the People at a Referendum by virtue of the provisions of Article 83 of the Constitution. (NewsWire)

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