The fear of suffering electoral setbacks due to mass discontent over economic conditions is the key reason Sri Lanka’s main ruling party has decided against holding provincial council elections this year, Tamil political leaders say.

Tilvin Silva, general secretary of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), said in an interview that the balloting cannot be conducted in 2026 “because of current developments in the country”.

The possibility of holding the elections would be “explored” next year, said Silva, whose Sinhalese-Marxist JVP heads the National People’s Power (NPP) alliance ruling the country.

M.A. Sumanthiran, acting general secretary of the Ilangai Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK), said the NPP’s 2024 election manifesto had stated categorically that the provincial council elections would be held within one year, by September 2025.

When this issue was raised with President Dissanayake in November last year, he told opposition leaders that they would be organised “next year” – 2026.

“The government, then, is no different from any previous one in terms of brazenly violating its promises,” Sumanthiran, a former MP, told Jaffna Monitor.

The Tamil lawyer-leader was clear that Tilvin Silva’s announcement was “entirely due to the fear of losing outright in the (Tamil-majority) north and the (multi-racial) east.”

“Even if they win elsewhere, it will be with much reduced majority,” he said, referring to the rest of the mostly Sinhalese-populated areas of the country. “This is clearly a denial of the franchise of the people.”

Mano Ganesan, who heads the Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) and is a prominent leader of the “Indian Tamil” community, also spoke about the JVP’s reluctance to face the Sri Lankan voters.

“The impression is increasingly clear. They are not prepared to face elections at this moment.

“The growing public frustration over economic conditions is only intensifying that hesitation. Yes, the reality is that Tilvin Silva fears facing the electorate today,” Ganesan, told Jaffna Monitor.

Elections to all nine of Sri Lanka’s provincial councils have not been held since 2017. Although provincial councils are to be formed across the country, the demand for polls is most acute in the Northern and Eastern provinces, where the Tamil community and its leaders continue to push for greater devolution of power.

Ganesan, a member of the Parliamentary Select Committee on the provincial council electoral system, said JVP/NPP leaders had been insisting on incorporating youth and women’s reservations into any new electoral system.

While not opposed in principle to such reservation, Ganesan and other opposition leaders on the select committee have argued that insistence on this now will consume too much time.

So, Ganesan argued that the long-overdue provincial council elections should be held under the existing and reasonably fair proportional representation system, and that these should be organised without delay in the northern, eastern, and central provinces.

Later, everyone could work on reservations for youth and women. But the NPP leadership refused to accept the suggestion.

Douglas Devananda, leader of the Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP), said he feared that the JVP-led government would never hold the provincial council elections because the government was against devolution of power to the provinces.

“Also, if they go for elections, they will face setbacks,” he told Jaffna Monitor, echoing a point underlined by other Tamil leaders too.

Devananda, a former Sri Lankan minister, said the JVP-NPP alliance was likely to face “major setbacks” across Sri Lanka if elections were held now. This was mainly due to the economic problems that have hit Sri Lankans hard, he said.

The multi-party Democratic Tamil National Alliance (DTNA) also blasted the government over the delay of the provincial council elections, pointing out that it was a clear violation of an election promise made by the president.

A dTNA statement added that the government of Anura Dissanayake was cleverly controlling the provincial councils through the governors without allowing the people to elect their representatives.

It also questioned the propriety of JVP leader Tilvin Silva announcing the delay of the overdue provincial council elections when he was not part of the NPP-JVP government. ‘We condemn this announcement. Who has given Tilvin Silva the right to deny the people their franchise?’

The provincial councils are part of the India-Sri Lanka Accord signed in 1987 with a view to ending Tamil separatism. The councils were conceived as an alternative to separatism and as a means of devolving power to the provinces.

The JVP, the main political force within the ruling NPP coalition, has long opposed the 1987 India-Sri Lanka Accord and its provisions, including the provincial council system.

In 2024, the JVP stunned friends and foes alike when it swept the parliamentary elections in the Tamil-majority north, virtually eclipsing the traditional Tamil parties. But its vote share declined noticeably in local body polls in the same region in 2025.

Tamil and other political sources say this worries the JVP brass, which feels that any major losses in provincial council elections will take away the sheen from the country’s centre-Left government midway through its term.

Starting from 25 May 2026, the Government of Sri Lanka has introduced a special visa policy for short-term visitors from 40 selected countries, according to the Department of Immigration & Emigration.

Under the new initiative, eligible travelers can obtain a tourist visa through the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) system free of charge for a period of 30 days.

The countries included in the free ETA program are Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belarus, Belgium, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Poland, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America. Nationals holding diplomatic, official, service, or ordinary passports from these countries are eligible for the free tourist ETA.

Despite the waiver of visa fees, the Department of Immigration & Emigration stated that all foreign nationals must still obtain an ETA before arriving in Sri Lanka. This requirement also applies to citizens of countries with reciprocal agreements, including the Maldives, Seychelles, and Singapore. Authorities said that the ETA application process remains mandatory for all visitors entering the country under the new scheme.

The department further confirmed that ETA applications submitted by citizens of the listed countries, along with travelers from the Maldives, Seychelles, and Singapore, will be processed free of charge. However, travelers who paid ETA fees before 25 May 2026 will not be eligible for refunds. Under the current arrangement, tourists are permitted to stay in Sri Lanka for up to 30 days, while Maldivian nationals may stay for up to 90 days. Double-entry access will also be permitted during the visa validity period.

Visitors wishing to remain in Sri Lanka beyond the permitted 30-day period may apply for a visa extension by paying the required extension fee. Apart from the waiver of ETA processing charges for eligible travelers, all other rules and regulations governing the ETA system will continue to apply, according to the Department of Immigration & Emigration.

TELO, Through JVP UK Branch, Raises Key Questions to Prime Minister Dr. Karanei Amarasuriya at Public Meeting Held in London on 20‑05‑2026

The Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization (TELO), through the JVP UK Branch, raised key political concerns to Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister, Dr. Karanei Amarasuriya, during a public meeting held in London on Wednesday. The event brought together members of the Tamil community, civil society representatives, and srilanka diaspora organisations.

TELO reiterated that it did not support the recent No‑Confidence Motion brought by the Opposition, noting that Tamil communities currently experience greater safety, dignity, and freedom of expression under the NPP/JVP‑led administration compared to previous governments.

However, TELO stressed that the Tamil national question remains unresolved, and used today’s public platform to formally convey its concerns to the Prime Minister.

Provincial Council Elections: 8 Years Without Elections

TELO highlighted that Provincial Council elections have not been held for 8 years, despite the end of the war 17 years ago. With the current administration nearing two years in office, TELO emphasised that the continued delay is unacceptable and undermines democratic governance.

TELO’s question to the Prime Minister:

“When will your government announce the Provincial Council elections? We request a clear and specific timeframe — whether within 3 months, 6 months, or another defined period.”

Full Implementation of the 13th Amendment

TELO reiterated that the 13th Amendment remains the only constitutional mechanism currently available to ensure a measure of power‑sharing for Tamil‑speaking people.

At today’s meeting, TELO urged the Prime Minister to state the government’s position clearly and transparently.

TELO’s question to the Prime Minister:

“Is your government prepared to fully implement the 13th Amendment — including police and land powers — within a defined timeline?”

Roadmap for a Long‑Term Political Solution

While acknowledging improvements in civic freedoms, TELO stressed that the political aspirations of the Tamil people remain unmet.
The organisation called on the government to present a transparent, time‑bound roadmap toward a durable political settlement that ensures equality, dignity, and meaningful power‑sharing.

Conclusion

TELO stated that today’s public meeting in London, facilitated via the JVP UK Branch, reflects its commitment to open, democratic engagement with both the Tamil diaspora and the Sri Lankan government.

The organisation emphasised that delays cannot continue, and urged Prime Minister Dr. Karanei Amarasuriya to respond with clarity, timelines, and firm commitments that align with the government’s stated principles of justice, equality, and democratic reform.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has reaffirmed Canada’s recognition of the atrocities committed against Tamils in Sri Lanka as genocide, issuing an official statement marking Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day and honouring victims and survivors of the armed conflict.

In a statement released on 18 May, Carney said Canada joined “Tamil communities in Canada and around the world” in commemorating Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day, whilst acknowledging the immense suffering endured by Tamils during the armed conflict in the Tamil homeland.

“The Sri Lankan civil war claimed tens of thousands of civilian lives over more than a quarter century,” the statement read.

“We honour the memory of those who lost their lives and stand with the survivors, families, and communities who endured profound suffering.”

Carney also highlighted the significant presence of the Tamil diaspora in Canada, noting that many Tamils had sought refuge in the country after fleeing violence and persecution in Sri Lanka.

“Canada is home to one of the largest Tamil diasporas in the world, including many who came here seeking refuge from violence and persecution,” he stated.

Referring to Canada’s parliamentary recognition of the Tamil genocide, Carney noted that in 2022 the Canadian Parliament unanimously voted to recognise 18 May as Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day and formally acknowledged that the atrocities committed against Tamils in Sri Lanka constituted genocide.

“In 2022, Canada’s Parliament unanimously voted to recognise May 18 as Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day and recognise the atrocities committed against Tamils in Sri Lanka as genocide – reflecting an important step in acknowledging this painful history.”

The Canadian Prime Minister further stated that Canada would continue supporting international efforts aimed at accountability, human rights and lasting peace on the island.

“Canada will continue to support international efforts to advance accountability, uphold human rights, and promote lasting peace for people of the Island,” he said.

The statement concluded with Canada reaffirming its commitment to justice and remembrance.

“We reaffirm our commitment to human dignity and justice, and to ensuring that such grave violations of human rights are never ignored or forgotten.”

The statement comes as Tamils across the homeland and diaspora marked the 17th anniversary of the Mullivaikkal genocide, commemorating the tens of thousands of Tamil civilians massacred during the final stages of the Sri Lankan military offensive in 2009.