SRI LANKA

ELECTORAL SYSTEM
 
Chamber:
  Parliament
 
Electoral Law:
  1 January 1900
 
 
Constituencies:
  - 22 multi-member (4 to 20 seats, depending on population) constituencies (for 196 seats)
- one nationwide constituency (29 seats)
 
Voting System:
  Proportional representation system with preferential voting.
Each elector selects specific party or independent group and three of its candidates. Parties polling less than one-eighth of vote in each constituency are not eligible for seats.
29 "national" MPs chosen through a formula based on aggregate votes received by each party.
Vacancies filled by substitutes nominated by same party or group which held seat in question.
Voting is not compulsory.
 
Voter requirements:
  - age: 18 years
- Sri Lankan citizenship
- residence in constituency where voting
- disqualifications: insanity, imprisonment of six months or more (in preceding 7 years), death sentence, conviction for corrupt or illegal practice connected with elections, imposition of civic disability.
 
Eligibility:
  Qualified electors
- age: 18 years
- Sri lankan citizenship
- ineligibility: undischarged bankrupt, interest in government contract, acceptance of bribe or gratification offered with view to influencing judgment as MP (in preceding 7 years).
 
Incompatibilities:
  - holders of public offices
- certain employees of corporations
- membership of police or armed forces
- Judicial officers, Secretary General of Parliament and his staff, members of the Public Service Commission and Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration (Ombudsman)
 
Candidacy requirements:
  - nomination lists submitted from seventh to fifth week prior to polling
- in each district, a party or independent group can nominate up to three more candidates than there are seats to be filled
- groups must also deposit 2,000 rupees per candidate (reimbursable if group polls more than one-eighth of the votes cast in the district)


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General Information | Last Elections
Presidency of the Parliament | Parliamentary Mandate | Full text
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