The ruling National People's Power (NPP) emerged as the largest party, winning 3,927 council seats and securing 43.26% of the vote, a notable decline from their result in the parliamentary elections the previous year.[9][10] Voter turnout was relatively low, recorded at 61.88%,[11] compared to 79.46% in the recent presidential election and 68.93% in the parliamentary election.
As a result, Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled the country and resigned as president, while Mahinda Rajapaksa also stepped down as prime minister.[18][19]Ranil Wickremesinghe was first appointed prime minister and later became acting president following Gotabaya Rajapaksa's resignation. On 20 July 2022, Wickremesinghe was elected by parliament as the 9th President of Sri Lanka, tasked with completing the remainder of Rajapaksa's term.[20]
The term of office for 340 out of 341 local government authorities expired at midnight on 19 March 2023. Elections, originally scheduled for 2022, were indefinitely postponed by President Rajapaksa due to the economic crisis, extending the term by one year.[23][24]
The Election Commission set 9 March 2023 as the new election date, with the SLPP being the first to submit deposits.[25][26]
On 14 February 2023, postal voting was delayed when the government printer refused to supply ballots without payment, raising concerns about further postponements. By late February, doubts over the election's feasibility grew amid funding disputes. President Wickremesinghe argued elections should not be held during the crisis due to financial constraints. On 24 February, the Election Commission officially postponed the elections again, initially rescheduling them for 25 April.[27][28][29][30][31]
Opposition parties, including the Samagi Jana Balawegaya, criticised Wickremesinghe's position. Sajith Premadasa noted that the UNP had submitted nominations despite no confirmed election date.[32]
Court ruling and subsequent proceedings
On 22 August 2024, the Supreme Court ruled that the election delay violated voters' rights and ordered the Election Commission to hold elections immediately.[33]
On 3 December 2024, the cabinet approved drafting the Local Authorities Elections (Special Provisions) Bill to annul the 2023 nominations for the postponed elections and call for new nominations. The bill was published in The Sri Lanka Gazette on 1 January and presented to Parliament on 9 January 2025.[34][35]
Nizam Kariapper and three other parties petitioned the Supreme Court, challenging the constitutionality of certain clauses.[36] Following hearings, the Court ruled that some clauses were inconsistent with the Constitution and required a special majority for enactment.[37][38][39][40] Despite this, on 17 February 2025, Parliament passed the bill by special majority without amendments. It was endorsed by the Speaker the same day, becoming the Local Authorities Elections (Special Provisions) Act No. 01 of 2025.[41][42][43]
A Gazette Extraordinary issued on 17 February 2025 stated that the term of 339 out of 341 local government authorities would commence on 2 June 2025. This includes 28 municipal councils, 36 urban councils and 275 pradeshiya sabhas.[5][44] The Kalmunai Municipal Council was excluded due to ongoing legal proceedings, while the Elpitiya Pradeshiya Sabha was excluded as its election had been held on 26 October 2024.[45][46]
On 3 March 2025, the Election Commission announced nominations for 336 local authorities would be accepted from 17 to 20 March 2025. The Kalmunai Municipal Council and the pradeshiya sabhas of Dehiattakandiya, Elpitiya, Mannar and Poonakari were excluded.[47][48][49][50] On 10 March, the Commission announced nominations for Dehiattakandiya, Mannar and Poonakari would be accepted from 24 to 27 March.[51][52][53]
On 20 March 2025, the Election Commission set the election date for 6 May 2025.[1][54][2] The elections for the three pradeshiya sabhas—Dehiattakandiya, Mannar and Poonakari—which finalised nominations on 27 March 2025, will also be also held on the same date.[55][56][57]
The formation and activities of 161 out of 339 local councils commenced. This applies only to councils in which a political party or an independent group has secured a clear majority.
As of the 2025 elections, there are 341 local councils, comprising 29 municipal councils, 36 urban councils and 276 pradeshiya sabhas. Local authority elections are conducted using a mixed-member proportional representation (MMPR) system, as outlined in the Local Authorities Election (Amendment) Acts No. 22 of 2012, No. 1 of 2016 and No. 16 of 2017.[69][70]
Under this system, 60% of seats are allocated through the first-past-the-post (FPTP) method, where the candidate with the most votes wins in a designated single or multi-memberward. The remaining 40% are distributed proportionally (PR) based on the votes received by each political party or independent group.[70] The first election conducted under this system was the 2018 Sri Lankan local elections.[71][72][73]
The Delimitation Commission has defined the number of wards for all local authorities, with the details published in Gazette Extraordinary No. 1928/26 of 21 August 2015 and No. 2006/44 of 17 February 2017.[74]
To allocate seats proportionally, the district returning officer first calculates the average votes per seat (X) by dividing the total valid votes by the total available seats. Each party's or independent group's seat entitlement (Y) is then determined by dividing its total valid votes by X. Finally, the number of seats won through first-past-the-post (FPTP) is subtracted from Y, determining the additional seats (Z) awarded under proportional representation.[72][73]
Under the mixed-member proportional representation (MMPR) system, a party's seats are allocated based on its share of the total vote. If entitled to ten seats but winning seven constituencies, it receives three list seats to meet its entitlement. However, if a party wins more constituencies than its entitlement, the extra seat is an overhang seat. Overhang seats arise from the winner-takes-all nature of electoral districts or the geographic distribution of party support, allowing a party to win many seats with relatively few votes.[75][73][64]
Election of local council leadership
The law governing elections to local councils stipulates that a political party or an independent group holding 50% or more of the total membership in a local authority is entitled to nominate two of its members as mayor and deputy mayor in municipal and urban councils, or as chairman and vice chairman in pradeshiya sabhas. In instances where no single party has achieved a majority, the leadership of the council must be elected by secret or public ballot on the first sitting day of the newly constituted local authority.[64][65][66]
On 27 March 2025, the Election Commission announced expenditure limits for each local authority under the Election Expenditure Act, No. 3 of 2023.[77] The minimum expenditure per voter is set at SL Rs. 74, while the maximum is capped at Rs. 160. 50% of the funds will be allocated for candidates contesting at the electoral level. 30% for those at the local government institution level and 20% for candidates on the second list.[78][79]
Of the 17,296,330 registered voters nationwide, 17,156,338 were eligible to vote in this election, as elections for the Kalmunai Municipal Council and the Elpitiya Pradeshiya Sabha will not be held. Voting took place at 13,759 polling centres across the country, with 75,589 candidates representing 49 recognised political parties and 257 independent groups.[45][6][7][8]
Postal voting
Postal voting was originally scheduled to take place from 22 to 24 April 2025, with 28 and 29 April allocated for voters who were unable to cast their votes on the earlier dates.[58][59] However, on 17 April, the Election Commission rescheduled the postal voting to 24, 25, 28 and 29 April.[60][61] It is limited to pre-approved applicants, primarily government employees whose election duties prevent them from voting on election day.
Postal voting commenced on 24 April[81] and concluded on 29 April as scheduled.[82]
Election day
Voting commenced at 07:00 on 6 May 2025[3][62] and concluded at 16:00.[4][63]
Controversies and violence
Rejection of nomination papers and legal proceedings
On 21 March 2025, the Election Commission reported the rejection of over 400 nomination lists for failing to meet the criteria set out in election laws. Reasons include failure to achieve the mandated percentages for female and youth representation, as well as missing supporting documents for candidates.[83][84][85]
On 4 April 2025, the Court of Appeal ordered the acceptance of 37 previously rejected nomination lists, while the Supreme Court dismissed more than 50 petitions concerning the same issue.[86][87] On 10 April 2025, the Court of Appeal ordered the acceptance of a further 35 previously rejected nomination papers.[88]
On 7 April 2025, the Court of Appeal issued a stay order halting any further action related to the conduct of elections for several local government authorities, including the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) and the pradeshiya sabhas of Harispaththuwa, Kuliyapitiya, Panwila, Pathadumbara and Udapalatha. The stay order was scheduled to remain in effect until 16 May, the date on which the Court had scheduled the hearing of the petitions.[89][90] However, on 11 April 2025, the Court of Appeal lifted the injunction and permitted the conduct of elections for 18 local authorities, including the CMC. The Court also issued an order to accept the previously rejected nomination papers for these local authorities.[91][92][93]
On 2 June 2025, the formation and activities of 161 out of 339 local councils commenced, as stipulated in Gazette Extraordinary No. 2402/02 dated 17 February 2025.[5] This applies only to councils in which a political party or an independent group has secured a clear majority.[67] In instances where no single party has achieved a majority, the leadership of the council must be elected by secret or public ballot on the first sitting day of the newly constituted local authority.[68]
↑ Ranil Wickremesinghe contested as an independent candidate in the 2024 presidential election. The NDF contested the 2024 parliamentary election as an alliance under the leadership of Wickremesinghe.
↑ UCPF obtained 1,023 votes, winning one ward with a vote share of 32.26%. NPP received 866 votes, winning two wards with a vote share of 27.31%. According to the MMPR calculation, three seats were allocated to UCPF and four to NPP.
↑ SJB obtained 3,520 votes, winning three wards with a vote share of 20.14%. DTNA received 3,400 votes, winning three wards with a vote share of 19.45%. ITAK received 2,577 votes, winning four wards with a vote share of 14.74%. According to the MMPR calculation, four seats each were allocated to SJB and DTNA. ITAK was allocated five seats.
↑ SLMC obtained 6,970 votes, winning three wards with a vote share of 19.9%. ITAK received 5,926 votes, winning five wards with a vote share of 16.92%. According to the MMPR calculation, four seats were allocated to SLMC and five to ITAK.
For a comprehensive list of election results: "Parliamentary Election 2024 Results". Election Commission of Sri Lanka. 15 November 2024. Archived from the original on 20 November 2024. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
↑ Samarawickrama, Chathuranga Pradeep (23 April 2025). "Dan Priyasad dies after shooting". www.dailymirror.lk. Archived from the original on 23 April 2025. Retrieved 23 April 2025.
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