News
Voter registrations have dropped by nearly 1/3rd in 2023
By Rathindra Kuruwita
Although usually about 300,000 new voters were added to the voter lists, there had been an addition of only 207,000 in 2023, Commissioner General of Elections Saman Sri Ratnayake said.
“This is because young people’s interest in being a part of the electoral process is declining,” he opined.
With the Registration of Electors (Amendment) Act, No. 22 of 2021, those who turn 18 can register for the voter list online, he said.He added that under Act No. 22 of 2021, the voter registerers were updated once every four months.
“We prepare the first list of the year by 01 January. After that, from 01 February to 30 May, about 65,000 people, who turned 18, registered with us. From 01 June to 30 September, about 70,000 new voters registered. Over 70,000 joined between 01 October and so far in January. About 207,000 new voters registered during the three revisions we did in 2023. If we have an election, these 207,000 can vote, too,” he said.
The Sri Lankan Constitution guarantees that all citizens above 18 can vote; however, until now, those who turned 18 had to wait at least another year to vote because voter lists were only prepared once a year.
“We have gone online to encourage young people to vote. Please make use of that,” he said.The voter list that is valid for elections at this moment is the one that was certified in October 2023.
“The 2023 voter list is the one that is valid for elections if they are held now. With the Registration of Electors (Amendment) Act, No. 22 of 2021, we have chosen 01 February as the day we start counting voters, i.e., verifying where they live. We are now starting the process of preparing the 2024 voter list,” he said.
The initial steps of the voter registration process is done by grama niladaris who visit people’s homes to collect data. Ratnayake said one grama niladari now has to visit a large number of families.
“In some areas, the number of families has grown exponentially,” he said.
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya participated in a high-level dialogue titled “Tourism as Soft Power and Diplomatic Capital” held at the Euronews Hub, Piz Buin Davos, on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum on January 20.
The session explored how tourism functions as a strategic instrument of diplomacy by strengthening international trust, cultural exchange, and regional cooperation through mobility and people-to-people engagement. The Prime Minister shared the panel with Mr. Kuban Omiraliyev, Secretary General of the Organization of Turkic States and Mr. Meshari Alnahar – CEO Aseer Investment Company, Saudi Arabia.
Addressing global trends, the Prime Minister emphasized that Sri Lanka is an example of hope, recovery and resilience in a world of conflict demonstrating how tourism can play a critical role in a changing global environment particularly amid climate shocks, geopolitical instability, and uneven economic recovery. She noted that tourism is not only an economic sector but also a vital diplomatic bridge that supports livelihoods, builds relationships and connects people.
Drawing on Sri Lanka’s recent experience, she highlighted the country’s strong tourism recovery despite multiple crises, including the impact of Cyclone Ditwah. Transparent crisis management and strategic engagement with international partners helped sustain visitor confidence, resulting in record tourist arrivals even in challenging circumstances.
The Prime Minister also underscored the importance of green and climate friendly tourism infrastructure and underlined that Sri Lanka welcomes long term investment in tourism. She pointed out that tourism supports millions of jobs worldwide and that inclusive policies are essential to ensure fair opportunities, particularly for women and vulnerable communities.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
During an operation conducted in the dark hours of 20 Jan 26, the Sri Lanka Navy seized two (02) Indian fishing boats and apprehended seven (07) Indian fishermen while they were poaching in Sri Lankan waters, off Kovilan, Jaffna.
The seized boats and Indian fishermen was to be handed over to the Fisheries Inspector of Myliddy, Jaffna for onward legal proceedings.
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya participated in a series of high-level bilateral meetings on January 20 on the sidelines of the 56th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland.
The Prime Minister attended a productive bilateral meeting with Mr. Jozef Síkela, European Commissioner for International Partnerships. During the discussion, both sides focused on strengthening Sri Lanka–EU cooperation and advancing mutual interests.
Prime Minister Amarasuriya also met with Mr. Masato Kanda, President and Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), at the WEF Congress Centre. The meeting provided an opportunity to discuss ongoing engagement and future collaboration between Sri Lanka and the ADB.
In addition, the Prime Minister held discussions with Mr. Hassan El Houry, Chairman of Menzies Aviation, where opportunities for collaboration in aviation services and connectivity were explored.
The Prime Minister also participated in a high-level dialogue at the Global Tourism Forum held at the Euronews Hub, Piz Buin, Davos, as part of the World Economic Forum engagements.
Dr. Anil Jayantha, Minister of Labour, and the Deputy Minister of Finance were also present at these meetings.
[Prime Minister’s Media Division]
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