As Sri Lanka’s Elections Commission turns its focus to the future, the foundations of its 2026–2029 strategic plan are being laid on four core pillars: raising awareness, law reforms, institutional development, and integrating new technologies into its work. This framework aims to move the country close to the Commission’s vision of a nation where universal franchise is not merely an aspiration but a practical reality, Commissioner General of Elections, Saman Sri Ratnayake told the Sunday Observer.
A period of unprecedented electoral activity
From September 2024 to May 2025, the Commission successfully conducted three national polls, i.e., Presidential, General, and Local Council elections. “This is the first time three national elections were held within nine months,” Ratnayake said. Each event was followed by an extensive review involving national and district-level officials, he said.
Learning from these reviews, the Commission made noticeable improvements.
One key achievement was significantly reducing the time taken to release election results. The 2024 general election results were announced much faster than those of the Presidential election held a few months earlier. For the May 2025 Local Council elections, all 343 Local Council results were published before noon the following day, a record in Sri Lanka’s electoral history.
Institutional memory and evolution
The evolution of the Elections Commission reflects the changing needs and complexities of Sri Lanka’s democracy. Sri Lanka’s parliamentary and local authorities’ Election Departments date back to 1946. These were merged in 1955 to form the Department of Elections, headed by a Commissioner of Elections. In 2001, this department was transformed into an Independent Commission under the 17th Constitutional amendment.However, due to political hurdles, its head could not be appointed at the time, leaving the Commissioner General of Elections to carry out the Commission’s functions until 2014.
It was only in 2015, under the 19th amendment, that the Elections Commission as it exists today came into being. The Elections Commission had previously come up with two strategic plans and the Commission is carrying out consultations with stakeholders to create its 2026–2029 strategic plan, Ratnayake said. “This is vital given that the Commission is the State institution that deals with the highest number of external stakeholders,” he said. During an election the Commission must coordinate not only with the public, and elections monitors, but also with a vast array of State officials who play crucial roles during elections. Their inputs are vital in the commission’s strategy for the following four years, Ratnayake said.
A consultative approach
Stakeholder engagement is now at the centre of the Commission’s consultation. As part of the preparations for the 2026–2029 strategic plan, election officers will consult widely, at national and provincial levels. The Commission organised a session with election monitors recently, focusing especially on female and youth representation.
The Commission played a pivotal role in introducing a 25 percent quota for women in Local Government bodies in 2017. “We believe that the youth quota must also be expanded so that young people can enter politics in a meaningful way,” Ratnayake said.
The inclusion agenda also covers people living with disabilities. Mechanisms have already been set up to help visually impaired citizens vote with minimal assistance, an important step towards universal access.
Another initiative involved developing a lexicon of 325 sign language terms specifically for election-related words, after consultation with organisations representing people with hearing disabilities. This lexicon has been published as a book and distributed. District election officials have received training in sign language to better support voters.
Addressing structural barriers to participation
The Elections Commission is also tackling complex legal and procedural barriers that prevent some groups from voting. While the law technically permits remand prisoners to vote, practical hurdles have kept this right out of reach. The Commission is now working with prison officials and prisoner rights advocates to devise a mechanism to uphold these voting rights.
Similarly, there is renewed attention on migrant workers. Consultations are underway with the Foreign Ministry and the Justice Ministry to draft laws enabling migrant Sri Lankans to participate in future elections.
The Commission has also reached out to media institutions and professional bodies to understand the obstacles they face during elections, though engagement from these groups has so far been limited.
A strategic plan built on four pillars
After the ongoing consultations conclude, the Commission will finalise its strategic plan and develop an annual action plan guided by four key pillars.
1. Raising awareness: This covers not only the technical aspects of voting, but also promoting democratic values and norms throughout society. The Commission recognises that the integrity of an election depends as much on a well-informed electorate as on robust processes.
2. Law reforms: Many calls have been made to expand postal voting and introduce alternatives such as mobile or advance voting for those unable to attend polling stations on election day. Right now, only those directly involved in election duties are eligible for postal voting. Ratnayake said that the Commission is bound by the law, and thus changes in expanding who are eligible for postal voting and alternatives need changes to the law.
3. Institutional development: Resources and expertise are fundamental for the Commission and its associates such as the Government Printer and the police. Without resources, implementing the law becomes impossible. Ratnayake cited campaign finance laws as an example: while the law permits the Commission to prosecute violators, enforcement is impossible without adequate staffing in the Police Department. “If the implementing bodies can’t enforce the laws, then the law becomes a joke,” he said.
4. Integration of new technologies: The Commission’s IT Department handles all e-services internally, ensuring that the digital transition is managed securely and efficiently. Technology is central to increasing efficiency and safeguarding the integrity of the electoral process.
Legislative reform
With three elections held in quick succession, Ratnayake said this is the ideal time to reform election laws. “The Government can look at all the proposals we have already made and pass the laws. This will give us ample time to tweak the laws for future elections,” he said. Given that there will be no elections from 2026 to 2029, there is an opportunity to reflect on recent experiences and introduce measures that will make Sri Lanka’s elections more inclusive, efficient and credible.
