NPP Suffers Setback in 2025 Sri Lankan Local Government Elections

The recent local government elections in Sri Lanka have delivered mixed results for the ruling National People’s Power (NPP), signaling a notable setback compared to its strong performances in previous elections. While the NPP remains the leading party with 43.26% of the vote and 3,927 seats across the country, the overall outcome reflects a decline in its dominance and growing challenges from opposition parties.

According to official results, the NPP leads in 266 local councils, including 23 Municipal Councils, 26 Urban Councils, and 217 Pradeshiya Sabhas. However, this performance contrasts with the party’s earlier successes in the 2024 presidential and parliamentary elections, where it secured 42.31% and an impressive 61.56% of the vote respectively. The decline in vote share and seats in the local elections suggests a waning momentum for the NPP at the grassroots level.

The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) has capitalized on this shift, securing 21.69% of the vote and 1,767 seats, leading 13 local councils. Meanwhile, the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) and United National Party (UNP) have made modest gains in seats but failed to lead any councils, indicating a fragmented opposition landscape.

The NPP’s setback can be attributed to several factors, including voter fatigue, local governance challenges, and the resurgence of regional parties like the Illankai Tamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK), which leads in 37 councils. Additionally, the party’s inability to fully translate national-level popularity into local victories highlights organizational weaknesses and the complex dynamics of local politics.

Comparing this result to the previous two elections underscores the setback: in the 2024 parliamentary election, the NPP had a commanding 61.56% vote share, and in the 2024 Elpitiya Pradeshiya Sabha election, it secured 47.64%. The drop to 43.26% in the 2025 local elections marks a clear decline in voter support.

Political analysts suggest that the NPP must address local concerns more effectively and strengthen its grassroots networks to regain lost ground. The opposition’s gains reflect a more competitive political environment ahead of future national polls.

While the NPP remains the largest party in Sri Lanka’s local government, the 2025 election results represent a setback that challenges its narrative of unassailable dominance, signaling a more contested political landscape in the months and years to come.

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