Colombo : The inaugural meetings of Sri Lanka’s 338 local councils, scheduled for June 2, are now in jeopardy, with election monitoring groups warning that a majority of them may not be able to convene as planned.

The councils were formed following local government elections held on May 6. However, logistical and administrative delays appear to be hindering preparations for the official first sessions.

According to Manjula Gajanayaka, National Coordinator of the Institute for Democratic and Electoral Reforms, only 160 out of the 338 councils are currently in a position to hold their inaugural meetings on June 2. “At the moment, it will be difficult to have all councils meeting on June 2,” he said, pointing to unresolved issues in council formations and procedural delays in several areas.

The potential postponement has sparked concern among civic groups and citizens, who view the timely functioning of local councils as vital for grassroots governance, public services, and democratic engagement.

Observers say that the delay could further erode public trust in local governance, especially in regions where service delivery is already under strain. The government has yet to make an official statement on whether alternative dates will be proposed for the councils that are not ready to convene.

With only a fraction of the councils prepared, pressure is mounting on the authorities to address the bottlenecks quickly and ensure that the democratic process at the local level is not further undermined.