Sri Lanka - 01/01/2024 - Local level

• Total number of women members. (1) Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in this ordinance, not less than twenty five per centum of the total number of members in each local authority shall be women members: Provided that, where the number constituting twenty five per centum of the total number of members in a local authority in an integer and fraction, the integer shall be deemed to be the number which shall constitute twenty five per centum for the purpose of this section. (2) The Commissioner of elections shall by notice published in the gazette, specify the number of women candidates to be nominated in respect of each local authority. (Local authorities elections ordinance, article 27F)
• Any recognised political party or independent group shall, for the purpose of election as members of any local authority, submit two nomination papers in respect of all wards of such local authority. The nomination papers submitted by every recognized political party or independent group in respect of all wards of any local authority shall consist of the number of candidates of whom not less than ten per centum of the total number of members to be elected and returned in the first nomination paper, and not less than fifty per centum of the total number of candidates in the additional nomination paper shall be women candidates for the purpose of election as members of such local authority. The nomination papers submitted by every recognized political party or independent group in respect of all wards of any local authority shall be substantially in the Forms set out in the First Schedule, setting out the names. (Local authorities elections ordinance, article 28.2)
• The returning officer shall, immediately after the expiry of the nomination period, examine the nomination papers received by him and reject any nomination paper... that does not contain the total number of women and youth candidates as required to be nominated under subsection (2A) of section 28. (Local authorities elections ordinance, article 31)
• Where the number of members elected from any recognised political party or independent group for a local authority results in an overhang and thereby exceeds the number ascertained to be elected and returned as members under subsection (3) of section 65B and such number of members so elected do not include any women members, then the provisions of subsections (3) and (4) of this section shall not apply to such recognised political party or independent group. Where any recognised political party or independent group has received less than twenty per centum of the total number of votes polled in a local authority area, and has less than three members elected or returned, then the provisions of subsections (3) and (4) of this section shall not apply to such recognised political party or independent group. The apportionment of women members to be elected and returned to each local authority from the recognised political parties and independent groups other than the political parties and the independent groups referred to in subsection (2) of this section, shall be determined by the Commissioner of elections, taking into consideration the number of valid votes polled by the other recognised political parties and independent groups in all wards of such local authority, and the method of apportionment set out in Article 99A of the Constitution of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka shall mutatis mutandis apply thereto. Where the number of women members elected for all wards of any local authority area from any recognised political party or independent group other than the recognised political party or independent group referred to in subsection (1) or (2) of this section, is less than the number apportioned in terms of subsection (3) of this section, then the shortfall in the number of members shall be returned from among the women candidates in the first nomination paper or the additional nomination paper other than the women candidates who have been elected or are disqualified to be a member under section 9. (Local authorities elections ordinance, article 65AA)