- Overall votes down from Prez/P’ment Polls, particularly in urban areas/N-E: fails to win CMC outright
- Secures majority in 150+ bodies with 3,900+ seats but overall control only in approx. 100
- SJB polls over 2m, gets 1,760+ seats; SLPP performs strong with 740+ seats; UNP wins 375+; PA gets 300; SB impresses with 225+ seats; ITAK regains lost ground
The Sri Lankan public handed another strong mandate to the ruling National People’s Power (NPP) at the 2025 Local Government (LG) Elections.
Although the number of votes and the overall vote share reduced in comparison to the recent Presidential and Parliamentary/General Elections, the NPP polled more than double the amount received by the main Opposition, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB).
However, the NPP could not replicate its strong showing at the past two elections among urban voters and the Northern and Eastern voters. The NPP, which secured a two-thirds majority power in the Parliament less than six months ago, did not receive the same backing especially from the urban population and also from the Northern and Eastern Provinces. The NPP managed to secure the backing of the rural voter base in the deep South.
Notably, the NPP failed to win outright the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) despite continuous campaigning by the party and Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya. The result of the CMC which was released yesterday (7) indicated no overall control for any party but the NPP received the most number of votes. The NPP obtained 81,814 votes (36.92%) and secured 48 out of the 117 seats in the CMC. The SJB received 58,375 votes and won 29 seats while the United National Party (UNP) polled 26,297 votes and secured 13 seats. With the results, the Opposition parties are expected to forge alliances in a bid to secure Government power in the CMC.
The SJB polled over two million votes and in the process secured victories in LG bodies in Kandy and in the North and the East. The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) also performed strongly in the LG Elections. The Sarvajana Balaya (SB) also secured seats in several LG bodies across the country and had an impressive showing for a newly-formed Party.
The Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) which lost ground at the past two elections, managed to perform strongly among the Tamil voters. The ITAK won eight LG bodies in the North and the East. Regional parties such as the All Ceylon Tamil Congress, the National Congress and the Ceylon Workers’ Congress managed to retain their voter base.
According to the overall standings, the NPP secured 3,921 members and secured a majority in more than 150 bodies. However, they managed to secure overall control only in around 100 LG bodies. The SJB secured 1,766 seats while the SLPP won 742 seats. The UNP and the People’s Alliance (PA) won 379 and 300 seats, respectively. The SB secured 226 seats in LG bodies across the country.
The 2025 LG Elections which was worked-off from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday (6) concluded without any major incidents. Monitors also acknowledged that the election process was peaceful when compared to past elections.