News, Breaking News
New laws to be proposed to allow overseas Sri Lankans to vote
17 Sep, 2025
New laws are to be introduced to allow Sri Lankans living overseas to vote, the Government announced on Wednesday
The Government said that a committee will be appointed to study particulars relevant to amend the existing laws and formulate new laws to safeguard the voting rights of Sri Lankans overseas.
The committee will include officials in the Elections Commission, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employments and Tourism, and the Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Governments.
The Cabinet has approved a proposal by the Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Governments to appoint the committee.
At present, the right to vote is reserved only by the citizens living within Sri Lanka who have registered their names in the electoral register as per the elections law.
According to the current elections law there is no provision for Sri Lankans overseas to vote.
However, the Government noted that Asian countries such as India, Bangladesh, and the Philippines have formulated laws to enable their citizens living overseas, to vote.
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