The deadline given to submit the names of the elected members to the local bodies in the 2025 Local Government Elections to the Election Commission ended at midnight yesterday (30).

Election Commission Chairman R. M. A. L. Ratnayake said that the gazette listing the names of the elected members to local councils is expected to be issued today (31) as soon as the names are received.

The gazette listing the names of the chairpersons for 161 Local Government institutions has already been prepared and finalised. The Election Commission Chairman further said that no person who has not been gazetted can use his vote to appoint the heads of Local Government institutions. The Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government Minister through a gazette notification issued on February 17, 2025 has stipulated that the term of office of Local Government institutions should commence on June 2, 2025. According to that provision, the names of elected and nominated members of Local Government bodies must be published in the Gazette before the commencement of their term of office.

The Election Commission also issued a gazette notification on May 27 ordering the immediate submission of the names of the elected members to the Election Commission due to the failure of political parties and independent groups to submit the names of the members elected to the Commission, even though 21 days have passed since the Local Government Elections.

The Election Commission Chairman said that after the names of the members have been gazetted, steps will also be taken to gazette the names of the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Local Government Institution nominated by the party that obtained a 50 percent majority of the votes in the relevant Local Government Institution during the Local Government Institution elections.