By The Pulseline News Desk
For years, the long-delayed provincial council (PC) elections have remained at the centre of political debate, with repeated promises by successive governments failing to materialise into an actual poll. Now, the issue has resurfaced once again following recent remarks by Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) General Secretary Tilvin Silva and growing criticism from Tamil political parties over the continued postponement of the elections.
At the weekly Cabinet media briefing, Cabinet Spokesperson, Minister Nalinda Jayatissa sought to assure the public that the government is financially prepared to conduct the provincial council elections, dismissing suggestions that a lack of funds could prevent the polls from being held this year.
“The funds required for the election have already been allocated,” Jayatissa said, responding to questions from journalists regarding the government’s position on the delayed elections.
His remarks come amid renewed scrutiny over the future of the provincial council system, particularly after Silva recently commented on the matter, sparking political discussion over whether the government intends to proceed with the polls in the near future.
The provincial councils, established under the 13th Amendment to the Constitution following the Indo-Lanka Accord of 1987, were designed to devolve administrative powers to the provinces. However, all nine provincial councils have remained dissolved for several years, with elections repeatedly postponed due to legal disputes and disagreements over the electoral system.
The last provincial council elections were held in phases between 2012 and 2014. Since then, attempts to introduce a mixed electoral system and subsequent legal complications have prevented fresh elections from being conducted.
The delays have drawn sharp criticism, particularly from Tamil political parties, which view the provincial council system as one of the few existing constitutional mechanisms for power-sharing and devolution. Among those voicing concern is former Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian M. A. Sumanthiran, who has repeatedly criticised successive governments for postponing the elections and weakening provincial governance structures.
Critics argue that continued delays undermine democratic representation at the provincial level and erode public confidence in constitutional institutions. Tamil parties have also warned that postponing the elections further sends negative signals regarding the government’s commitment to devolution and reconciliation.
While insisting that finances are not an obstacle, Minister Jayatissa acknowledged that unresolved legal provisions remain the key barrier to holding the polls.
According to him, a Parliamentary Committee is currently examining the relevant legal issues, while discussions are ongoing on how to finalize the required framework for the elections.
He maintained that once the legal obstacles are cleared, the government would be able to move ahead with the Provincial Council elections without delay.
“This government has already conducted two elections within eight months. Our expectation is to hold the Provincial Council election while safeguarding the people’s sovereignty in accordance with the Constitution,” Jayatissa stated.
The Minister also noted that even if budgetary allocations had not already been made, the government would still have the option of obtaining the necessary funding through a supplementary estimate.
Despite these assurances, questions remain over when the legal reforms will be finalised and whether political consensus can be reached on the electoral framework required to conduct the long-overdue polls.
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