Election Department Sri Lanka – eservices.elections.gov.lk | Government Services 2024

Explore the convenient and essential services offered by the Election Department of Sri Lanka through their official portal, eservices.elections.gov.lk. Whether you’re a first-time voter or need to update your details, this platform provides easy access to everything you need for the upcoming elections in 2024. With government services becoming increasingly digitized, eservices.elections.gov.lk ensures that every citizen can participate in the democratic process with ease. Learn more about the features, benefits, and how you can take advantage of this crucial government service.

The Election Commission of Sri Lanka is the constitutional authority responsible for overseeing and administering all elections in the country, including those for the presidency, legislature, provinces, and local government bodies. Sri Lanka, recognized as Asia’s oldest democracy, achieved full adult suffrage in 1931, becoming the first Crown colony to do so, just three years after the United Kingdom.

Election Department Sri Lanka Contact Details

How to Search for Voter Registration Details

1. Visit the following link: Voter Registration Search.
2. Enter your NIC number (e.g., 123456789V).
3. Select your district.
4. Verify by checking the “I’m not a robot” box.
5. Click “Search.”

Presidential Election 2024

The Presidential Election is conducted by the Election Commission, as mandated by the Constitution and the Presidential Elections Act, No. 15 of 1981. This election must be held either one to two months before the President’s term expires or at an earlier date if the President chooses to call for an election.

Download Acts and Provisions Related to the Presidential Election

Election Commission: Composition, Duties, and Voter Registration

Composition of the Election Commission: According to Articles 103–104 of Chapter XIV of the Democratic Socialist Constitution of Sri Lanka, the Election Commission is composed of three individuals who have distinguished themselves in any profession, administration, or education. These members are appointed by the President based on the recommendations of the Constitutional Council. One of the members must be a retired officer of the Department of Elections, having previously held the position of Deputy Commissioner of Elections or higher. The tenure of each member is five years from the date of appointment.

Role of the Chairman: The Chairman of the Election Commission is appointed by the President, based on the Constitutional Council’s proposal.

Revocation of a Member’s Appointment: A member of the Election Commission may have their appointment revoked under the following circumstances:

1. If they become a member of a local government council, provincial council, or parliament.
2. Upon appointment as a public officer or judicial officer.
3. If they join a public company or assume any position within the public sector.
4. If removed from office in the same manner as a judge of the Supreme Court or Court of Appeal.
5. Upon a member’s request to the President.
6. If convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude or if a civic disability is imposed under Article 8.
7. If they miss three consecutive sessions without prior approval from the Commission.

Aims of the Election Commission:

1. Ensure that all eligible voters can cast their ballots freely, privately, and without fear.
2. Promote voter participation, emphasizing the right to vote as an essential privilege.
3. Guarantee fair and equal opportunities for all candidates.
4. Maintain an updated electoral register that includes all eligible voters.
5. Foster credible and sufficient participation from citizens of marginalized backgrounds.
6. Conduct the election process transparently and efficiently.
7. Provide relevant stakeholders with access to data and information about the electoral process.

Voters: Definitions and Registration

Citizen:
A citizen is a person who is entitled to all legal rights and benefits conferred by the state, required to observe its laws, and to fulfill obligations when called upon.

Elector:
An elector is a person who is eligible to vote in an election, having reached the age of eighteen.

Voter:
A voter is an elector who possesses an identity document, is registered in the electoral register, and is qualified to vote.

Voter Registration: To exercise the right to vote in referenda, provincial council elections, local authority elections, presidential elections, and parliamentary elections, a citizen must be registered in the electoral register.

Process of Voter Registration: The legal framework for voter registration and parliamentary elections was established by the Ceylon (Parliamentary Elections) Order in Council on September 26, 1946. The process and requirements have evolved over time, with the age of eligibility being lowered from 21 to 18 in 1959. The electoral register is now prepared based on house numbers or alphabetical records in various areas, with the responsibility for enumeration initially falling to special enumerators and village headmen, and later to Grama Sevakas (previously known as Grama Niladharis).

Basic Qualifications for Registration:

1. The applicant must be a Sri Lankan citizen.
2. The applicant must have turned eighteen by February 1st of that year.
3. The applicant must reside at the address for which they are registering.
4. The applicant must not be disqualified under Article 89 of the Constitution, such as by having been convicted of an election offence or declared of unsound mind.

To download relevant forms, click here.

Anyone above the age of eighteen is eligible to be an elector.