• Name lists for local bodies given to EC gazetted
• Some parties and groups yet to submit name lists

With the deadline for submitting name lists of elected local authority members having passed on 30 May, the Election Commission is moving swiftly to finalise the process. 

Election Commission (EC) Chairman R.M.A.L. Rathnayake confirmed that while the exact number of political parties and independent groups that had submitted their lists remained unclear, all received lists had already been sent for gazette publication.

“We cannot confirm how many parties and independent groups have submitted the name lists, because the deadline just concluded last night,” Rathnayake told The Sunday Morning yesterday (31 May). “However, by last afternoon, we had already sent all of the name lists to print the gazette, which will be published soon after.”

The publication of the gazette is a critical legal step that enables newly-elected councillors to formally assume office and participate in the inaugural meetings of local authorities.

“Those whose names have been published in the gazette will be able to participate in the meetings and proceedings of the local authorities. The rest will have to wait until their names are gazetted in future,” Rathnayake clarified.

Importantly, he reassured that any delays in submission would not result in disqualification. 

“No names that have been delayed will be cancelled. That is not how it works,” he stated, indicating that even if some parties or groups had missed the initial deadline, their submissions could still be accepted and processed.

However, he acknowledged that some parties were yet to submit their lists for certain local authorities.

“In any case, there are parties that are yet to submit name lists for local authorities,” he noted. “But I still have not been able to look at the name lists. After the gazette has been published, we will be able to observe how many have presented and how many are yet to present.”

The finalisation of LG membership comes after an extended period of delay in holding LG Polls and the current developments mark a key step towards restoring grassroots democratic governance across Sri Lanka.

Once gazetted, local authorities with confirmed member lists can begin official proceedings, including convening inaugural meetings and appointing chairpersons or mayors where a clear majority has been secured. For others, the process will continue until all submissions are formally published and recognised.

People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) Executive Director Rohana Hettiarachchi, commenting on the ability of local authorities to convene in the absence of members, explained that most lists had already been presented to the Election Commission to the best of his knowledge. 

“I checked with the Election Commission this morning (31 May) and it confirmed that all the names had been submitted and forwarded for gazette publication,” he stated.

Out of the 339 local authorities, a clear majority – defined as 50% plus one for a single political party or group – has already been secured in 161. This has enabled those councils to move swiftly with administrative appointments. According to Hettiarachchi, chairpersons and mayors have already been named for these authorities.

“These 161 authorities will commence their work on Monday, 2 June, as scheduled,” he confirmed, noting that the majority of these councils were now politically stable, with either ruling or Opposition parties holding full control.

However, the remaining 178 councils, where no party holds a clear majority, are expected to take an additional week to become operational. The delay is primarily due to procedural requirements mandated under LG laws.

“In these cases, the LG commissioners must notify elected members by letter,” Hettiarachchi explained. “Additionally, a public notice must be published in a newspaper, giving at least one week’s notice before the first council meeting.”

Assuming those notices are dispatched by the end of this week, the PAFFREL Executive Director expects the remaining authorities to hold their inaugural meetings by 9 June.

When asked about the administrative consequences of councils lacking a clear majority, Hettiarachchi acknowledged the potential for political gridlock but reassured that the formal processes were now complete.

“While it may pose certain political challenges, administratively these councils can be established, as the Election Commission has fulfilled its duties,” he said.