Sri Lanka Tells UNHRC Provincial Council Polls Await Delimitation

COLOMBO — The Sri Lankan government has informed the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) that provincial council elections will be held once the delimitation process is completed. This response was included in a written submission to the OHCHR regarding a report on the human rights situation in the country. Sunday Times report today.

The government's statement was a direct reply to the Human Rights Commissioner's observation that provincial council elections, mandated under the 13th Amendment, have not been held since 2014.

"In May 2025, the Government made arrangements to hold the local government elections which were scheduled for 2022. The Government plans to hold provincial council elections once the delimitation process is completed," the government's response read.

In its communication, the government also highlighted the inclusivity of the parliament formed in November 2024, claiming it as one of the most inclusive in the nation's history. It pointed to a record number of women and representatives from different communities, including two female members from the Malaiyaha community and a visually impaired person, who were elected as MPs for the first time.

However, the OHCHR report presented a contrasting view. It noted that only two women ministers, including the Prime Minister, were appointed to the cabinet. The report also highlighted that while 22 women were elected to Parliament, doubling women's participation to 9.8 percent, this figure remains "below the regional average of 22.1 percent."