List of Polling divisions of Sri Lanka

Polling divisions of Sri Lanka
Electoral districts and polling divisions of Sri Lanka
CategoryElectoral districts
LocationSri Lanka
Created by1978 Constitution
Created
  • 7 September 1978 (1978-09-07)
Number160 (as of 2024)
Government
This article is part of a series on the
Politics of
Sri Lanka
Constitution
Executive
  • G. P. Saputhanthri
  • W. M. D. J. Fernando
Legislature

  • Secretary General
  • Kushani Anusha Rohanadeera
  • D. W. R. B. Seneviratne
Judiciary
  • Parinda Ranasinghe
  • Viraj Dayaratne
  • Ayesha Jinasena
Elections
  • R. M. A. L. Rathnayake
  • Members
  • M. A. P. C. Perera
  • Ameer Faaiz
  • Anusuya Shanmuganathan
  • Lakshman Dissanayake
Administrative divisions
Devolution
  • S. Aloka Bandara
Central Bank
  • Senior Deputy Governor
  • K. M. A. N. Daulagala
  • K. M. Mahinda Siriwardana
Foreign relations
  • Aruni Ranaraja
Related topics

Polling divisions in Sri Lanka are subdivisions of the country's electoral districts. From the 1st parliamentary election in 1947 to the 8th in 1977, members were elected to the parliament using a first-past-the-post system from these polling divisions. This system changed in 1978.[1]

The 1978 Constitution introduced a proportional representation electoral system, electing Members of Parliament from 22 multi-member electoral districts.[2][3]

All but two electoral districts correspond to their respective administrative districts. The exceptions are Jaffna, covering both Jaffna District and Kilinochchi District, and Vanni, covering Mannar District, Mullaitivu District, and Vavuniya District. The first general election under this system was the 1989 election.

Polling divisions are still maintained for declaring election results, and for administrative purposes to facilitate the management and organisation of electoral processes.[4]

Electoral districts

Main article: Electoral districts of Sri Lanka
Registered electors and seat allocation changes: 2020 to 2024[5][6][7]
Provinces Districts Registered electors Number of allocated seats
2020 2024 2020 2024 Change
(+/-)
Western Colombo 1,709,209 1,765,351 19 18 Decrease1
Gampaha 1,785,964 1,881,129 18 19 Increase1
Kalutara 972,319 1,024,244 10 11 Increase1
Central Kandy 1,129,100 1,191,399 12 12 Steady
Matale 407,569 429,991 5 5 Steady
Nuwara Eliya 577,717 605,292 8 8 Steady
Southern Galle 867,709 903,163 9 9 Steady
Matara 659,587 686,175 7 7 Steady
Hambantota 493,192 520,940 7 7 Steady
Northern Jaffna 571,848 593,187 7 6 Decrease1
Vanni 287,024 306,081 6 6 Steady
Eastern Batticaloa 409,808 449,686 5 5 Steady
Ampara 513,979 555,432 7 7 Steady
Trincomalee 288,868 315,925 4 4 Steady
North Western Kurunegala 1,348,787 1,417,226 15 15 Steady
Puttalam 614,374 663,673 8 8 Steady
North Central Anuradhapura 693,634 741,862 9 9 Steady
Polonnaruwa 331,109 351,302 5 5 Steady
Uva Badulla 668,166 705,772 9 9 Steady
Monaragala 372,155 399,166 6 6 Steady
Sabaragamuwa Ratnapura 877,582 923,736 11 11 Steady
Kegalle 684,189 709,622 9 9 Steady
National List — — — 29 29 Steady
Total — 16,263,885 17,140,354 225 225 Steady

Polling divisions

See also: Provinces of Sri Lanka

Western Province

See also: Western Province, Sri Lanka
Electoral districts Polling divisions
Colombo 1. Colombo North 2. Colombo Central 3. Borella 4. Colombo East 5. Colombo West
6. Dehiwala 7. Ratmalana 8. Kolonnawa 9. Kotte 10. Kaduwela
11. Avissawella 12. Homagama 13. Maharagama 14. Kesbewa 15. Moratuwa
Gampaha 16. Wattala 17. Negombo 18. Katana 19. Divulapitiya 20. Mirigama
21. Minuwangoda 22. Attanagalla 23. Gampaha 24. Ja Ela 25. Mahara
26. Dompe 27. Biyagama 27. Biyagama 28. Kelaniya —
Kalutara 29. Panadura 30. Bandaragama 31. Horana 32. Bulathsinhala 33. Mathugama
34. Kalutara 35. Beruwala 36. Agalawatta — —

Central Province

See also: Central Province, Sri Lanka
Electoral districts Polling divisions
Kandy 37. Galagedara 38. Harispattuwa 39. Pathadumbara 40. Ududumbara 41. Teldeniya
42. Kundasale 43. Hewaheta 44. Senkadagala 45. Mahanuwara 46. Yatinuwara
47. Udunuwara 48. Gampola 49. Nawalapitiya — —
Matale 50. Dambulla 51. Laggala 52. Matale 53. Rattota —
Nuwara Eliya 54. Nuwara Eliya–Maskeliya 55. Kothmale 56. Hanguranketha 57. Walapane —

Southern Province

See also: Southern Province, Sri Lanka
Electoral districts Polling divisions
Galle 58. Balapitiya 59. Ambalangoda 60. Karandeniya 61. Bentara–Elpitiya 62. Hiniduma
63. Baddegama 64. Ratgama 65. Galle 66. Akmeemana 67. Habaraduwa
Matara 68. Deniyaya 69. Hakmana 70. Akuressa 71. Kamburupitiya 72. Deniyaya
73. Matara 74. Weligama — — —
Hambantota 75. Mulkirigala 76. Beliatta 77. Tangalle 78. Thissamaharama —

Northern Province

See also: Northern Province, Sri Lanka
Electoral districts Polling divisions
Jaffna 79. Kayts 80. Vaddukoddai 81. Kankesanthurai 82. Manipay 83. Kopay
84. Udupiddy 85. Point Pedro 86. Chavakachcheri 87. Nallur 88. Jaffna
89. Kilinochchi — — — —
Vanni 90. Mannar 91. Vavuniya 92. Mullaitivu — —

Eastern Province

See also: Eastern Province, Sri Lanka
Electoral districts Polling divisions
Batticaloa 93. Kalkudah 94. Batticaloa 95. Paddiruppu —
Ampara 96. Ampara 97. Sammanthurai 98. Kalmunai 99. Pothuvil
Trincomalee 100. Seruwila 101. Trincomalee 102. Mutur —

North Western Province

See also: North Western Province, Sri Lanka
Electoral districts Polling divisions
Kurunegala 103. Galgamuwa 104. Nikaweratiya 105. Yapahuwa 106. Hiriyala 107. Wariyapola
108. Panduwasnuwara 109. Bingiriya 110. Katugampola 111. Kuliyapitiya 112. Dambadeniya
113. Polgahawela 114. Kurunegala 115. Mawathagama 116. Dodangaslanda —
Puttalam 117. Puttalam 118. Anamaduwa 119. Chilaw 120. Nattandiya 121. Wennappuwa

North Central Province

See also: North Central Province, Sri Lanka
Electoral districts Polling divisions
Anuradhapura 122. Medawachchiya 123. Horowpothana 124. Anuradhapura East 125. Anuradhapura West 126. Kalawewa
127. Mihinthale 128. Kekirawa — — —
Polonnaruwa 129. Minneriya 130. Medirigiriya 131. Polonnaruwa — —

Uva Province

See also: Uva Province
Electoral districts Polling divisions
Badulla 132. Mahiyanganaya 133. Viyaluwa 134. Passara 135. Badulla 136. Hali Ela
137. Uva Paranagama 138. Welimada 139. Bandarawela 140. Haputale —
Moneragala 141. Bibile 142. Monaragala 143. Wellawaya — —

Sabaragamuwa Province

See also: Sabaragamuwa Province
Electoral districts Polling divisions
Ratnapura 144. Eheliyagoda 145. Ratnapura 146. Pelmadulla 147. Balangoda 148. Rakwana
149. Nivithigala 150. Kalawana 151. Kolonna — —
Kegalle 152. Dedigama 153. Galigamuwa 154. Kegalle 155. Rambukkana 156. Mawanella
157. Aranayaka 158. Yatiyanthota 159. Ruwanwella 160. Deraniyagala —


References

  1. ^ Rafi, Talal (17 May 2018). "A look at British politics: Should Sri Lanka revert to First Past the Post system?". Daily FT. Archived from the original on 26 April 2024. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
  2. ^ "The Constitution of the D. S. R. of Sri Lanka" (PDF). The Parliament of Sri Lanka. 30 March 2023. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 September 2024. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
  3. ^ "The Electoral System". The Parliament of Sri Lanka. 14 December 2012. Archived from the original on 6 September 2024. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
  4. ^ "Notice on the division of an electoral district into polling divisions and the sub division of a polling division into polling districts in terms of Section 9(3) of the Registration of Electors Act, No 44 of 1980". Election Commission of Sri Lanka. 2024. Archived from the original on 26 September 2024. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
  5. ^ "Parliamentary Election Results – 2020". Election Commission of Sri Lanka. 7 June 2020. Archived from the original on 23 September 2024. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
  6. ^ "Presidential Election Results – 2024". Election Commission of Sri Lanka. 22 September 2024. Archived from the original on 26 October 2024. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
  7. ^ "Number of members to be returned for each Electoral District as required under Article 98(8) of the Constitution – After certification of 2024(1) Supplementory Electoral Register (2024.02.01 – 2024.05.31) as at 2024.07.08" (PDF). Election Commission of Sri Lanka. October 2024. Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 October 2024. Retrieved 17 October 2024.