Electoral districts of Sri Lanka

The 1978 Constitution of Sri Lanka provides for the election of members of Parliament from 22 multi-member electoral districts through the proportional representation electoral system.

All but two of the electoral districts are conterminous with their namesake administrative district. The two exceptions are Jaffna (which covers the administrative districts of Jaffna and Kilinochchi) and Vanni (which covers the administrative districts of Mannar, Mullaitivu and Vavuniya). The first general election which used these electoral districts was in 1989.

Constitutional provision

According to the constitution the Parliament should consist of 225 seats (members):[1]

  • 36 seats were allocated to the nine provinces, four each (section 96(4)).[2] A delimitation commission would apportion the four seats between the electoral districts in each province.[2]
  • 160 seats were allocated to the electoral districts (section 98).[3] An election commission would apportion the seats annually based on the number of registered electors.
  • 29 seats were reserved for the national list (section 99A).[4]

Delimitation commission

The constitution required the establishment of a delimitation commission for the delimitation of the electoral districts and apportion the 36 provincial seats.[2][5] The constitution limited the number of electoral districts to between 20 and 25.[2]

The Delimitation Commission was appointed on 29 November 1978. Its decision was published on 15 January 1981. The country was divided into 22 electoral districts. 21 of the 22 electoral districts were conterminous with their namesake administrative district. The other electoral district - Vanni - consisted of the administrative districts of Mannar, Mullaitivu and Vavuniya. The 36 provincial seats were apportioned as follows:

Kilinochchi Administrative District was created from southern Jaffna Administrative District in February 1984. Consequently, Jaffna Electoral District now consists of two administrative districts (Jaffna and Kilinochchi).

Jaffna seats controversy

The annual updating of the electoral register in Sri Lanka is done by house-to-house enumeration. The civil war prevented house-to-house enumeration from taking place in most of the Northern Province from the mid-1980s onwards. For these areas the Department of Elections instead took the previous year's register and added anyone who had since turned 18.

The civil war resulted in significant population displacement and emigration from the Northern Province. Two of the biggest displacements occurred in 1995 and 2008. Virtually the entire population of the Jaffna peninsula fled to the Vanni in 1995 to escape the military onslaught by the Sri Lankan military as they tried to recapture the peninsula from the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. Most of the population of the Vanni were displaced in 2008 as they fled the military onslaught by the Sri Lankan military to recapture the Vanni from the LTTE. Hundreds of thousands fled abroad from the Northern Province during the civil war. Tens of thousands also fled to other parts of Sri Lanka outside the conflict zone, particularly to the capital Colombo.

As a consequence of all this the electoral register for the Northern Province was overstated for many years. The civil war ended in May 2009 and in 2010 the first house-to-house enumeration in around 25 years took place in most of the Northern Province. The result of the enumeration was that about 300,000 electors were deleted from the electoral register for the Northern Province. Consequently, the total number of parliamentary seats allocated to Jaffna Electoral District, one of the two electoral districts that make up the Northern Province, was reduced from 10 (2009) to 6 (2010). The number of parliamentary seats allocated to Vanni Electoral District, the other electoral district in the Northern Province, remained unchanged at 6.

Jaffna Electoral District's problems were exacerbated by the decision of the 1978 Delimitation Commission to allocate it only one of the four provincial seats - the other three provincial seats were allocated to Vanni Electoral District even though at that time Jaffna had more than four times the number of electors than Vanni. This decision meant that 30 years later Jaffna had the same number of total seats (six) as Vanni despite having more than twice the number of electors. Jaffna now also had one fewer seat than Ampara Electoral District, Hambantota Electoral District and Nuwara Eliya Electoral District despite having more electors. It had two fewer seats than Puttalam Electoral District despite having only 25,000 fewer electors.

The decision by the Department of Elections to reduce Jaffna's seats drew much criticism, particularly by opposition parties.[6][7] They pointed out that although there are only a small number of people still in IDP camps, tens of thousands had not returned to their homes and were living with relatives due to the existence of High Security Zones and ongoing de-mining. It was not known if all of these people were registered to vote. For most people in the Northern Province rebuilding their lives after the devastating civil war had been far more important than registering to vote. Many also did not have any form of identification to register as they had lost their official documents during the frequent displacements. As result the electoral register for Jaffna Electoral District was likely to be understated. It was also not known if those who had fled to other parts of Sri Lanka like Colombo were registered to vote in those areas. The government and the Department of Elections rejected the criticism, saying that they were only doing what the constitution required them to do.[8][9]

Number of seats per electoral district

Current

Current allocation of seats.

Electoral
District
Province Area
km2
[10]
Polling
Divisions
Population
(2014)
[11]
Registered
Electors
(2014)[12]
Sect. 98
Seats
(2014)
Sect. 96(4)
Seats
(1979)
Total
Seats
(2014)[13]
Ampara (Digamadulla)Eastern4,4154645,803465,757527
AnuradhapuraNorth Central7,1797855,373636,733729
BadullaUva2,8619811,138620,486628
BatticaloaEastern2,8543525,166365,167415
ColomboWestern699152,322,9421,586,59817219
GalleSouthern1,652101,058,902819,8669110
GampahaWestern1,387132,298,1901,637,53717118
HambantotaSouthern2,6094595,802462,911527
JaffnaNorthern2,30411695,867529,239527
KalutaraWestern1,59881,214,720897,3499110
KandyCentral1,940131,367,9001,049,16011112
KegalleSabaragamuwa1,6939837,100649,878729
KurunegalaNorth Western4,816141,611,2301,266,44313215
MataleCentral1,9934482,294379,675415
MataraSouthern1,2837810,629623,818718
MonaragalaUva5,6393448,080339,797325
Nuwara EliyaCentral1,7414706,156534,150628
PolonnaruwaNorth Central3,2933403,827307,125325
PuttalamNorth Western3,0725760,651553,009628
RatnapuraSabaragamuwa3,27581,082,051769,8149211
TrincomaleeEastern2,7273376,337256,862314
VanniNorthern6,5803364,021253,058426
National List29
Total65,61016020,274,17914,268,06316036225

Historic

Historical allocation of seats.[14][15]

YearElectoral DistrictTotal
AMPANUBADBATCOLGALGAMHAMJAFKALKANKEGKURMONMTLMTRNUWPOLPUTRATTRIVAN
2011Electors[16]441,287606,508591,292347,0991,512,670790,2071,538,368442,060482,342853,6091,002,493631,9811,216,286319,557359,796595,867488,133294,365517,557769,814245,363221,40914,268,063
Sect. 98 Seats57741791755911714447536932160
Sect. 96(4) Seats222121121112221122221336
Total Seats[17]79951910187610129166587581145196
2010Electors436,148598,274590,341344,7501,542,491784,5301,529,563438,202484,791845,626997,807629,6691,209,323315,452354,112593,778482,550290,494509,714761,336246,890236,44914,222,290
Sect. 98 Seats57741791755911714347536933160
Sect. 96(4) Seats222121121112221122221336
Total Seats[18]79951910187610129165587581146196
2009Electors426,109585,934581,971335,8821,503,310770,5701,497,814428,636816,005826,921976,789620,0901,193,228308,230345,104584,800467,103284,279500,751746,029245,155270,70714,315,417
Sect. 98 Seats57641791759911713346536833160
Sect. 96(4) Seats222121121112221122221336
Total Seats[19]798519101871010129155577581046196
2008Electors420,835579,261574,814333,6441,521,854761,8151,474,464421,186721,359813,233970,456613,9381,183,649300,642342,684578,858457,137280,337495,575734,651241,133266,97514,088,500
Sect. 98 Seats57641791758911713347536833160
Sect. 96(4) Seats222121121112221122221336
Total Seats[20]79851910187910129155587581046196
2007Electors414,523569,417561,021331,2691,560,593753,1721,458,295414,112716,435801,326955,108605,6261,171,881294,761338,946576,208452,395277,056489,852713,205240,632262,53913,958,372
Sect. 98 Seats56641891758911713347536833160
Sect. 96(4) Seats222121121112221122221336
Total Seats[21]78852010187910129155587581046196
2006Electors409,308558,413554,026330,9501,543,282747,1901,430,679408,240710,174788,606940,923599,4351,160,274288,650334,680573,833450,390272,634484,076701,379242,463259,11313,788,718
Sect. 98 Seats56641891758911713347536833160
Sect. 96(4) Seats222121121112221122221336
Total Seats[22]78852010187910129155587581046196
2005Electors399,395547,303541,331324,3871,502,967736,8131,397,358401,540707,309772,999923,017589,6761,140,125282,724328,938568,125449,539266,652476,781684,529242,112254,75113,538,371
Sect. 98 Seats56641891758911713347536833160
Sect. 96(4) Seats222121121112221122221336
Total Seats[23]78852010187910129155587581046196
2004Electors396,453536,808533,163318,7281,468,537732,2891,364,180396,595701,938764,305907,038583,2821,124,076276,109321,876562,987447,225263,609470,604668,217238,755250,38613,327,160
Sect. 98 Seats56641891658911714347536833160
Sect. 96(4) Seats222121121112221122221336
Total Seats[24]78852010177910129165587581046196
2003Electors387,512523,485518,958310,1721,450,845723,0801,339,715389,998651,361753,327891,356574,9171,104,895268,517316,847555,929439,861259,039460,084655,248229,315229,53513,033,996
Sect. 98 Seats56641891658911714347536833160
Sect. 96(4) Seats222121121112221122221336
Total Seats[25]78852010177910129165587581046196
2002Electors379,044514,149511,115303,9281,467,751716,6081,327,145384,361644,279746,138880,632570,2991,089,482262,742312,556550,503436,236254,061450,057647,035224,307226,60412,899,032
Sect. 98 Seats56641891658911714347536833160
Sect. 96(4) Seats222121121112221122221336
Total Seats78852010177910129165587581046196
2001Electors369,427500,673500,738291,7301,461,334708,4301,305,582377,428637,066732,798863,019562,1231,069,619254,802305,698543,205424,513247,513440,768634,843217,572225,00712,673,888
Sect. 98 Seats56641891658911714347536833160
Sect. 96(4) Seats222121121112221122221336
Total Seats78852010177910129165587581046196
2000Electors360,497489,776491,288282,0791,440,682698,5581,285,973369,073633,457717,764838,687554,6981,046,102247,280299,606534,694417,264240,444426,193623,506212,280218,86112,428,762
Sect. 98 Seats56641991758911713347535833160
Sect. 96(4) Seats222121121112221122221336
Total Seats78852110187910129155587571046196
1999Electors352,537472,661475,558275,4851,385,547678,5091,253,416360,026622,331697,656812,478545,2381,007,410237,935292,652524,651405,414229,434412,474609,655206,884213,11112,071,062
Sect. 98 Seats56641891758911713347536833160
Sect. 96(4) Seats222121121112221122221336
Total Seats78852010187910129155587581046196
1998Electors343,809459,534464,223270,1971,337,083660,5851,228,908350,809612,770682,723794,453534,980980,725230,576286,174515,847397,711220,903404,050595,791201,808205,54111,779,200
Sect. 98 Seats56641891758911713347536833160
Sect. 96(4) Seats222121121112221122221336
Total Seats78852010187910129155587581046196
1997Electors336,165448,098454,913268,2001,326,487652,7341,213,589342,347622,957676,963780,136528,107961,240224,077281,089510,310391,585217,318398,055584,998197,620202,10811,619,096
Sect. 98 Seats56641891759911713347535833160
Sect. 96(4) Seats222121121112221122221336
Total Seats788520101871010129155587571046196
1996Electors329,929436,002449,901269,9061,305,511642,9901,196,445336,158596,639675,528766,300520,720938,583217,508275,882503,602388,455213,174393,318574,591195,867196,12811,423,137
Sect. 98 Seats56641891758911713347536833160
Sect. 96(4) Seats222121121112221122221336
Total Seats78852010187910129155587581046196
1995Electors327,824429,790447,187269,3851,296,243640,0651,187,657335,273596,373669,224752,817515,976921,601210,972270,920503,039388,114209,546391,053568,481195,897184,70811,312,145
Sect. 98 Seats56641891758911713347536833160
Sect. 96(4) Seats222121121112221122221336
Total Seats78852010187910129155587581046196
1994Electors325,566411,899445,298267,4631,299,879641,3601,185,288332,541596,373665,135744,055508,691901,027202,889263,700504,676390,335204,631388,335561,186191,722181,23211,213,281
Sect. 98 Seats56641891758911713347635833160
Sect. 96(4) Seats222121121112221122221336
Total Seats78852010187910129155588571046196
1993Electors312,006406,926435,260261,8981,235,959632,4221,140,808326,913596,366646,199726,192500,947876,591199,391259,271503,470386,668200,192380,192554,607184,090178,69710,945,065
Sect. 98 Seats46641891759911713347635833160
Sect. 96(4) Seats222121121112221122221336
Total Seats688520101871010129155588571046196
1992Electors315,101398,936433,862254,0571,263,667622,1271,116,072323,653596,413639,275719,289494,706858,638200,601255,493493,503367,189196,031371,192546,992181,168174,17710,822,142
Sect. 98 Seats56641991659911713347535833160
Sect. 96(4) Seats222121121112221122221336
Total Seats788521101771010129155587571046196
1991Electors308,086389,052430,752243,6591,255,273619,8801,101,017321,252596,413634,383708,758489,914864,279194,956251,484487,807363,291196,255362,255538,308177,830166,86010,701,764
Sect. 98 Seats56641991659911713347535833160
Sect. 96(4) Seats222121121112221122221336
Total Seats788521101771010129155587571046196
1990Electors294,088369,468417,274229,2441,190,630606,6111,057,474314,304596,410611,288694,516478,144847,524186,614244,473476,841342,786184,366349,068517,784166,367166,03110,341,305
Sect. 98 Seats566418916591011713347535833160
Sect. 96(4) Seats222121121112221122221336
Total Seats788520101771011129155587571046196
1989Electors289,668360,811397,323229,2441,177,720599,5041,033,334308,109596,410601,756682,807469,209823,261179,408236,115467,338336,815177,700341,856505,097160,093166,19310,139,771
Sect. 98 Seats56641991659911713347535833160
Sect. 96(4) Seats222121121112221122221336
Total Seats788521101771010129155587571046196
1988Electors271,792349,888385,865216,4201,158,088585,1811,009,845301,015592,210588,439669,276463,476811,373175,029226,866458,005308,953171,260331,893499,486155,548141,4489,871,356
Sect. 98 Seats4663199165101011813347535832160
Sect. 96(4) Seats222121121112221122221336
Total Seats6884211017711111210155587571045196
1987Electors265,951334,063329,464217,2761,088,640571,109969,634295,181591,074570,194628,373437,171784,989161,927214,939451,926229,510163,745318,755457,225152,289141,4459,374,880
Sect. 98 Seats46641810165101011713348435832160
Sect. 96(4) Seats222121121112221122221336
Total Seats688520111771111129155596571045196
1986Electors255,783324,317319,127209,9261,060,813560,709943,343284,948580,798554,855612,723423,246762,468153,477211,351443,821220,675159,265308,215447,426149,916135,0659,122,267
Sect. 98 Seats46541910165101011713348435832160
Sect. 96(4) Seats222121121112221122221336
Total Seats687521111771111129155596571045196
1985Electors248,179315,911313,697205,1221,060,830555,527923,981277,084569,743548,186618,817439,753738,892154,896206,461439,469215,560154,391298,893449,178149,495132,5939,016,658
Sect. 98 Seats45541910165101011813348435832160
Sect. 96(4) Seats222121121112221122221336
Total Seats6775211117711111210155596571045196
1984Electors238,647308,332306,111196,9651,047,904552,856910,981269,298555,302540,316609,248436,052730,696152,136203,025432,689215,910148,853294,358440,731148,064132,0818,870,555
Sect. 98 Seats46531910165101011813348435832160
Sect. 96(4) Seats222121121112221122221336
Total Seats6874211117711111210155596571045196
1979Electors185,286245,950255,749157,765911,251483,005778,344222,040463,414469,501530,517386,962670,230111,405175,225380,107187,101112,411243,581375,005119,872108,4937,573,214
Sect. 98 Seats45631910175101011814248425832160
Sect. 96(4) Seats222121121112221122221336
Total Seats6784211118711111210164596471045196

References

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