India has renewed pressure on Sri Lanka to hold long-delayed Provincial Council elections, urging the Government to conduct the polls “at the earliest” while fully implementing constitutional provisions aimed at addressing the aspirations of the Tamil community.
The call came during Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri’s one-day official visit to Colombo, where he held talks with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and senior Sri Lankan leaders. According to India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), New Delhi stressed the importance of restoring the long-dormant provincial governance system and ensuring the full implementation of constitutional commitments relating to devolution of power.
The reference is politically significant, coming at a time when Sri Lanka’s Provincial Councils have remained defunct for nearly a decade. The terms of all nine councils expired between 2017 and 2019, with successive administrations postponing elections due to electoral reforms, legal disputes and political disagreements.
President Dissanayake’s National People’s Power (NPP), which swept to power in 2024, had pledged during its election campaign to hold the long-overdue polls within its first year in office. However, nearly two years into the administration, no election date has been announced.
India’s intervention also coincides with renewed domestic pressure. A recently established common platform representing Tamil-speaking ethnic minorities met President Dissanayake on August 3, calling for the immediate restoration of elected Provincial Councils and the implementation of constitutional safeguards.
While New Delhi’s statement prominently highlighted the issue, Sri Lanka’s President’s Media Division (PMD) made no reference to Provincial Council elections in its account of the discussions. Instead, it focused on expanding bilateral cooperation in technology, energy and trade, describing the talks as efforts to deepen mutually beneficial relations between the two neighbours.
The differing emphasis has drawn attention among political observers, particularly given India’s long-standing support for meaningful devolution under the 13th Amendment, which was introduced following the Indo-Lanka Accord of 1987.
Misri’s visit covered a wide bilateral agenda beyond constitutional issues. The two sides discussed accelerating several India-backed projects, including the Unique Digital Identity programme, the development of Trincomalee as a regional energy hub, and the rehabilitation and modernisation of Kankesanthurai Harbour in Jaffna.
The Indian delegation also raised concerns over the recurring fishermen dispute, requesting Sri Lanka’s cooperation for the early release of detained Indian fishermen and fishing vessels. New Delhi urged Colombo to continue adopting a humanitarian approach while bilateral mechanisms work towards a lasting solution.
For Sri Lanka, India’s latest message serves as a reminder that constitutional reconciliation and devolution remain firmly on the bilateral agenda, even as both countries pursue closer economic, infrastructure and strategic cooperation.
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