India urges Sri Lanka to hold provincial polls, stresses Tamil aspirations
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on Wednesday urged Sri Lanka's leadership to hold the long-delayed Provincial Council elections “at the earliest” and to “fully implement” constitutional provisions to meet the aspirations of the Tamil people, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
Issued after Mr. Misri's daylong visit to Colombo, the MEA statement highlighted bilateral discussions on Indian assistance for Sri Lanka's recovery from Cyclone Ditwah, collaborations in the energy sector, and a possible upgrade of the trade agreement. The two sides also discussed modalities for faster implementation of India-backed initiatives, including the Unique Digital Identity project, the development of the eastern district of Trincomalee as an energy hub, and the rehabilitation and modernisation of Kankesanthurai harbour in Jaffna.
A media statement from President Anura Kumara Dissanayake's office said the discussions focused on “further strengthening cooperation between the two countries in areas including technology, energy and trade, in a manner that would deliver mutual benefits to both nations.” However, it made no mention of any discussion of the provincial elections, revealing an apparent difference in the two sides' priorities in messaging.
President Dissanayake's office said he sought India's support and “fullest cooperation” in combating drug trafficking, and underscored the importance of regional cooperation in addressing the challenges posed by climate change.
The reference by New Delhi to the provincial elections draws attention at a time when a recently formed common platform representing Sri Lanka's Tamil-speaking ethnic minorities has been pushing for the same, including at a meeting with President Dissanayake on August 3, 2026.
The terms of Sri Lanka's nine Provincial Councils expired between 2017 and 2019, and successive governments have delayed holding elections to them. President Dissanayake's National People's Power (NPP), in its campaign ahead of its big election win in 2024, promised to hold the polls within a year of assuming power.
However, the NPP government has since said it is prioritising the revival of the island's battered economy, sparking concern among some sections over the delay in keeping many of its other pre-poll political pledges.
