Local Government Elections Aim to Restore Democratic Governance at the Grassroots

Photo by Mia Abeyawardene

The Local Government elections scheduled for May 6 give Sri Lankans the opportunity to once again take control of running their own affairs and restore democratic governance at the grassroots level. The vote, which should have taken place in 2022 and comes after many legal and political delays, will elect 8,711 representatives to 339 local authorities across the country. An estimated 17.3 million citizens are eligible to vote.

The 2025 local government election will cost around Rs.11 billion for logistics, security, personnel and administration. Voters will choose members for 28 Municipal Councils, 36 Urban Councils and 275 Pradeshiya Sabhas. There is a 25 percent quota for women and youth.

The Election Commission is responsible for conducting the election. Independent organisations such as People’s Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL) and the Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) have deployed election observers across the country. Monitoring misinformation and harmful content on social media platforms, including content generated through artificial intelligence, is being given priority.

The local government system has evolved through a process of decentralisation designed to manage ethnic conflict and promote development. There are three tiers of local authorities: Municipal Councils for larger urban areas, Urban Councils for smaller towns and Pradeshiya Sabhas for rural areas operating under the Provincial Councils Act of 1987.

Local government authorities are responsible for services such as waste management, road maintenance, town planning, public health and local economic development. In the absence of elected representatives, these bodies have been run by administrative commissioners, limiting public accountability.

In the Batticaloa District, people are enthusiastic about the elections although this is the third election they are facing in under one year. Campaigning has been vigorous with candidates choosing the door to door option to deal directly with their constituents and listen to local problems. Violence has been minimal in a district that still holds bitter memories of a violent civil wat that tore their society apart.

According to the election law, parties have to have 25 percent representation of women and youth in their lists. The first time the quota was introduced for women at the 2018 election, the number of women councillors in the Batticaloa District increased to 21 percent. This time they are hopeful of meeting the 25 percent quota.

In order to gauge the situation on the ground, Groundviews spoke to an election monitor, a Batticaloa parliamentarian, a human rights lawyer and a women’s rights advocate on the process and significance of the local government elections.

A. Sornalingam, PAFFREL’s Batticaloa District Coordinator

There are 455,520 voters in the Batticaloa District to elect representatives to 12 councils. There are around 447 polling centres and 144 counting centres. We have mostly placed our stationary observers where they are also going to count. A hundred centres will be covered. We also have mobile monitoring units.

We have a good relationship with other election monitoring NGOs, the Elections Commission and the police. We have divided the monitoring work among us so there is no repetition. Elections officials support us and work with us. They see us as part of the whole election process. Campaigning is more intense because it’s a local election. People go to houses and do a lot of campaigning. The Election Commission made a lot of effort to educate the voters but it’s not really enough; there is someconfusion because the election process is different from the presidential election and parliamentary election.

There have been no significant incidents of violence so far. Nobody wants violence. Parties and the people don’t want to get into violence because we have faced violence in the war. The goal is to have a non-violence election process. There are cases like placing posters on the government properties and writing the symbols on walls but nothing of significance. When there are issues we immediately inform the police who are very supportive and have an excellent mobile service.

Aneesa Fithrous, founder of the Islamic Women’s Association for Research and Empowerment

People are enthusiastic about elections in Kattankudy. They go out on to the road and watch people going to vote. Early morning, even before the polling starts, there will be a line at the polling station. People help each other and will take sick people to vote. It’s like a celebration day for the people. Whether they are choosing the right candidates or not, they are voting. They make sure that they are voting. At four o’clock everyone will be out to see the boxes being taken in the bus. We have fulfilled our civil rights. Because it’s a local election there is enthusiasm. But also there is confusion because there are a lot of independent parties and so many candidates and parties so people are not sure what to do.

A. Uwais, human rights lawyer

There should be transparency at the polling booth. The government has to ensure that it deploys proper security mechanisms in order to create transparency and accountability. Polling officers must not make mistakes or misguide people. There should also be proper action against the people who commit violence.

Twenty five percent  of women’s and youth representation is ensured in the local government elections. This is a good combination. If the local government is formed in a democratic way, respecting the democratic values, then there will be a healthy council, which will represent the correct aspirations of people in different sectors. When youth are involved, when women are involved and experienced and mature politicians are involved, then the outcome of governance will be very fruitful.