• Voter turnout from 52-70%, Colombo the lowest, Mannar the highest 

Voting in Sri Lanka’s first Local Government (LG) Elections in nearly seven years (2018) officially closed yesterday (6). Accordingly, the polling which had commenced at 7 a.m. yesterday, came to a close at 4 p.m. 

Voter turnout across the country varied from district to district, with Colombo recording 52%, Gampaha 56%, and Kalutara 61% in the Western Province. In the Central Province, Kandy saw a turnout of 58%, Matale 62%, and Nuwara-Eliya 60%. In the Southern Province, Galle reported 63%, Matara 58%, and Hambantota 61%. 

In the Northern Province, Jaffna recorded 57%, while Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, and Vavuniya all reported 60%. Mannar had the highest turnout in the region at 70%. In the Uva Province, Badulla reported 60% and Monaragala 61%. Ratnapura and Kegalle in the Sabaragamuwa Province recorded 60% and 58%, respectively. 

In the Eastern Province, Batticaloa reported 61%, Ampara 63%, and Trincomalee saw a high turnout of 67%. In the North Western Province, Kurunegala and Puttalam both recorded 55%. The North Central Province reported 60% in Anuradhapura and 64% in Polonnaruwa.

Speaking to the media yesterday, Election Commission Chairperson R.M.A.L. Rathnayake said that once votes cast at all polling stations within a particular division are counted, they would be gathered at a central location in that division where the final result of that division would be prepared and announced. 

“Those results will then be sent to the relevant District Secretariats, where the results for each LG body will be prepared. The results will finally be forwarded to the EC for final approval, after which the official results will be publicly announced,” he said.

He urged the public to remain calm and stay home while the counting process was underway. “People are advised not to gather near counting centres. The Police has stepped up security in and around all counting locations. The Special Task Force and the tri-forces are also on standby to assist if needed. All post-elections operations are proceeding peacefully,” he noted.

The first official results of the 2025 LG Elections had been released by the time The Daily Morning went to print, with the Tangalle Urban Council in the Hambantota District showing the ruling National People’s Power leading with 2,260 votes (46.18%) and securing nine seats, followed by the main Parliamentary Opposition, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya with 1,397 votes (28.55%) and five seats, the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna of the Opposition with 795 votes (16.24%) and three seats, the United National Party of the Opposition with 265 votes (5.41%) and one seat, and the Sarvajana Balaya of the Opposition with 177 votes (3.62%) also gaining one seat.

Meanwhile, the People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) had recorded 119 election law violations and incidents of violence during the LG Elections. Statistics shared by the election monitor showed that 80 confirmed and 39 unconfirmed cases had been reported between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. yesterday from across the island. 

According to PAFFREL, three acts of violence have been reported yesterday. While two of them were confirmed, one was yet to be confirmed. Among them were assaults as well as acts of intimidation and threats. The statistics showed 116 elections-related law violations, of which 78 were confirmed and 38 were unconfirmed. Among them were 38 confirmed and 14 unconfirmed cases of carrying out illegal elections-related propaganda, 25 confirmed and 13 unconfirmed cases of influencing voters, and 10 confirmed and six unconfirmed other incidents. In addition, a small number of cases had been reported with regard to maintaining illegal party offices, giving incentives with political objectives, irregularities relating to ballot papers, the transportation of voters, and giving incentives to voters.

The polls are the third nationwide election within a year that witnessed the Presidential and Parliamentary/General Elections late last year (2024).

Over 17 million Sri Lankans were eligible to vote at 13,759 polling centres across the island yesterday to elect members and councilors for 339 LG institutions.

Accordingly, a total of 75,589 candidates were contesting from various political parties and independent groups at this year’s LG Elections.

PHOTO Lalith Perera