ITAK Urges Indian High Commissioner to Press for Provincial Council Elections
25-Sep-2025.
ITAK parliamentarians urged Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha that the continued delay in holding Provincial Council elections is unacceptable.
They stressed that with a two-thirds majority in Parliament, the government should amend the law and hold elections immediately, and that India must exert appropriate pressure.
They also condemned the government’s stance that the Kankesanthurai Port, despite $63 million in Indian funding for development, cannot be operated as a commercial harbor.
The delegation included MPs S. Shritharan, R. Sanakiyan, Dr. Satyalingam, D. Ravikaran, S. Kugathasan, and Dr. Srinath.
They expressed gratitude to India for its concern, as reflected at the UN Human Rights Council’s 60th session, emphasizing the need for meaningful devolution of power through timely provincial elections to ensure sustainable peace.
They pointed out that the government is deliberately delaying elections, citing the boundary delimitation report as a pretext. With a two-thirds majority, the government could immediately pass the motion tabled
by MP Sanakiyan to hold elections under the old system, but instead continues to stall.
They stressed that democracy can only be safeguarded through elected representation at provincial councils, as mandated by the 13th Amendment to the Constitution.
The MPs also highlighted concerns raised by Indian investors and exporters about the high costs of sending goods via Colombo Port before distribution to the North and East.
They noted that development of Kankesanthurai Port would reduce costs and encourage investment in the region, naturally leading to infrastructure development. They urged India to press the government on this matter.
In response, High Commissioner Santosh Jha stated that he has consistently raised the issue of provincial elections with the government at all levels and reiterated India’s position internationally. He assured that India will continue to pursue the matter and will also engage with the government on the issue of port development.
