• To also accommodate legally mandated 25% youth quota in LG Authorities 

The Cabinet of Ministers has granted approval – subject to adoption at the next meeting – to make necessary provisions for the recalling of nominations for the Local Government (LG) Elections.

Speaking at the Cabinet press conference held yesterday (3), Cabinet Spokesperson Dr. Bandula Gunawardana stated that it has been observed that over 900,000 voters who were included in the renewed 2024 voters’ list are at risk of losing the right to vote and the right for the candidacy as a result of the indefinite postponement of the 2023 LG Elections. 

Furthermore, he highlighted that although all the citizens above 18 years of age should be allowed to exercise their right to vote as per Article 4 of the Constitution, voters who were included into the voters’ list in 2024 will lose the opportunity to vote in the elections in which the acceptance of nominations were concluded in January of last year (2023). Additionally, he expressed that provisions should be made for 25% youth representation in nominations submitted for LG Bodies following the passing of the Local Authorities Elections (Amendment) Act, No. 30 of 2023, and that however, this provision has also been overlooked as the relevant nominations were called in 2023. 

Thus, it has been decided to direct the Legal Draftsman to prepare a Local Authorities Elections (Special Provisions) Bill including the necessary provision after consulting the Election Commission (EC), in a manner that empowers the EC to recall the nominations for the aforesaid Elections and to hold the Elections based on the updated 2024 voters’ list, in order to address the said issues.

The joint proposal submitted to the Cabinet by the Prime Minister as the Minister of Public Administration, Home Affairs, Provincial Councils and Local Government and the Minister of Justice pertaining to the matter has been approved by the Cabinet, subject to adoption at the next meeting.