IFES Sri Lanka

15/05/2026

Did you know? 🗳️

If you have completed 18 years of age by 1 February 2026, you are eligible to be registered as a voter.

The Election Commission of Sri Lanka updates the Electoral Register annually and is currently providing voters the opportunity to verify the inclusion of their names and request any necessary corrections from May 5, 2026 to June 1, 2026.

Protect your right to vote by ensuring your details are correctly included in the Electoral Register.

📌To check whether your name is registered online, visit:
https://eservices.elections.gov.lk/pages/myVoterRegistrationSearch.aspx
📌ECSL video on the voter registration process:
https://www.facebook.com/reel/997183362694793

14/05/2026

To read the full report on Violence Against Women in Elections Framework visit: https://www.ifes.org/publications/violence-against-women-elections-framework

🚺In 2016, IFES published a groundbreaking framework to assess, monitor, and respond to violence against women in elections (VAWE).

A decade later, the challenge has evolved. So the response has to evolve as well.

This month, drawing on 10 years of implementation and lessons learned, IFES has released an updated edition of "Violence Against Women in Elections: A Framework for Assessment, Monitoring, and Response."

The new framework streamlines VAWE data collection and analysis, while expanding its focus on online violence, gendered disinformation, and the growing role of artificial intelligence in amplifying these threats during electoral processes.

As technology reshapes political communication, protecting women’s political participation is more urgent than ever.

Download the full report — link in comments. ⤵️

12/05/2026

09/05/2026

In April, the Department of Social Services conducted a series of interviews to select the country’s first standardized Sign Language interpreter pool that will undergo the newly introduced grading system aimed at ensuring consistency, quality, professionalism, and accessibility to interpretation services nationwide. Out of 22 applicants, 14 were selected to proceed to a 10-day training program followed by a viva voce and practical evaluation for formal grading. A panel inclusive of departmental interpreters, representatives from the Sri Lanka Central Federation of the Deaf and the Tamil Deaf Association engaged in conducting the assessments.

This initiative was led by IFES Sri Lanka under the Disability Inclusive Governance initiative supported by the Australian High Commission, Sri Lanka.

08/05/2026

IFES Sri Lanka in collaboration with the National Youth Services Council facilitated a training on effective facilitation for 20 NYSC representatives from across the country to create a skilled pool of master trainers targeting the youth sector. The program included sessions on facilitation, adult learning methods, and evaluation, alongside practical exercises such as lesson planning and simulated training with individualized feedback. Senior NYSC representatives engaged participants through discussions and emphasized applying these skills to empower youth and support Youth Service Officers nationwide.

This initiative was led by IFES Sri Lanka as a initiatives supported by the Australian High Commission, Sri Lanka.

07/05/2026

The Parliamentary Caucus for Persons with Disabilities, chaired by MP Hon. Sugath Wasantha de Silva, convened in Parliament to review 2026 Budget allocations and progress on disability-related programs. Discussions brought together nine ministries as well as the University Grants Commission, discussing areas such as higher education, accessible housing, entrepreneurship financing, and technology. The session engaged members of parliament, government officials, the Sri Lanka Central Federation of the Deaf, and representatives of the disability community.

06/05/2026

PAVE has created an empowered network of youth leaders and community advocates who are driving inclusive social change 💪🏽.

PAVE STORIES 👨‍💼👩‍💼

My journey with PAVE has been truly transformative, both personally and professionally. Like many others, I began as a volunteer with PAVE, taking my first steps into community engagement and advocacy work.

Later, I was given the opportunity to serve as Team Leader of Advocacy Group. In this role, I was able to lead and implement our advocacy initiatives more effectively.

One of the most meaningful experiences was working closely with persons with disabilities, addressing issues related to their voting rights, and amplifying their voices to the Election Office and community-level platforms. PAVE provided me with a strong platform to be their voice.

Subsequently, I served as the Jaffna District PAVE Coordinator, where I had the opportunity to implement four advocacy initiatives. During this journey, I worked closely with diverse groups including youth, transgender communities, persons with disabilities, and marginalized communities.

PAVE also enabled me to directly engage with community-based organizations and government institutions, especially the Election Office, making our advocacy efforts more impactful and meaningful.

Overall, PAVE has strengthened my skills and given me a powerful experience of working closely with communities and creating real social impact 🤝✨

PAVE உடனான என் பயணம் என்னை தனிப்பட்டும், தொழில்முறையிலும் மிகுந்தளவில் மாற்றியமைத்த ஒரு அர்த்தமுள்ள அனுபவமாகும். எல்லோரையும் போலவே, நான் முதலில் PAVE அமைப்பில் ஒரு தன்னார்வத் தொண்டராக என் பயணத்தைத் தொடங்கினேன்.

பின்னர், பரிந்துரை முன்னேடுப்பு (Advocacy) குழுவின் தலைவராக செயல்படும் வாய்ப்பு எனக்கு கிடைத்தது. அந்தப் பொறுப்பில், எமது பரிந்துரை செயற்பாடுகளை வழிநடத்தி, திறம்பட முன்னெடுக்க முடிந்தது.

குறிப்பாக, இயலாமை கொண்ட நபர்களுடன் நெருக்கமாக பணியாற்றி, அவர்களின் வாக்குரிமை தொடர்பான பிரச்சனைகளை அடையாளம் கண்டு, அவற்றை தேர்தல் அலுவலகம் மற்றும் சமூக மட்டங்களுக்கு கொண்டு சென்று அவர்களின் குரலாக செயல்படுவதற்கு PAVE எனக்கு ஒரு வலுவான தளமாக இருந்தது.

அதனைத் தொடர்ந்து, யாழ் மாவட்ட PAVE இணைப்பாளராகவும் செயல்படும் வாய்ப்பு கிடைத்து, நான்கு பரிந்துரை முன்னேடுப்பு செயற்பாடுகளை வெற்றிகரமாக முன்னெடுக்க முடிந்தது. இதில், இளைஞர்கள், திருநர் சமூகத்தினர், இயலாமை கொண்ட நபர்கள் மற்றும் விளிம்புநிலையிலுள்ள சமூகக் குழுக்கள் என பல்வேறு தரப்பினருடன் இணைந்து பணியாற்றும் அனுபவமும் கிடைத்தது.

சமூக மட்ட அமைப்புகள் மற்றும் அரச நிறுவனங்கள், குறிப்பாக தேர்தல் அலுவலகத்துடன் நேரடியாக தொடர்புகளை ஏற்படுத்தி, எமது பரிந்துரை செயற்பாடுகளை முன்னெடுக்க PAVE ஒரு முக்கியமான தளமாக அமைந்தது.

மொத்தத்தில், PAVE எனது திறன்களை மேம்படுத்தி, சமூகத்துடன் இணைந்து செயற்படுவதற்கான ஒரு வலுவான மற்றும் அர்த்தமுள்ள அனுபவத்தை வழங்கியுள்ளது 🤝✨

Nila Nila

05/05/2026

The Accessibility Audit Report of the Ministry of Labour was officially handed over to Secretary S. M. Piyatissa by MP Hon. Sugath Wasantha De Silva, Chair of the Parliamentary Caucus for Persons with Disabilities, following an audit of the “Mehewara Piyasa” premises - an initiative led by the Caucus in partnership with IFES Sri Lanka with support from the Australian High Commission, Sri Lanka.

The Accessibility Audit Report of the Ministry of Labour was officially handed over on Monday (04) to the Secretary of the Ministry, S. M. Piyatissa, by the Chair of the Parliamentary Caucus for Persons with Disabilities, MP Sugath Wasantha De Silva.

The report was developed under the leadership of the Parliamentary Caucus for Persons with Disabilities, based on an accessibility audit conducted within the “Mehewara Piyesa” building premises of the Department of Labour. This initiative was carried out in partnership with the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) and funded by the Australian Government.

The technical component of the audit was led by Tikiri Kumara Jayawardena, a member of the National Council for Persons with Disabilities (NSPD). The report, which includes proposals and recommendations, was produced following an evaluation conducted by a diverse group of 28 participants, including accessibility audit experts, PAVE Sri Lanka youth volunteers, members of the Disability Inclusive Elections in Sri Lanka (DIESL) Working Group, and staff from the Department of Labour. The team assessed two main buildings, the main auditorium, and the Ministry’s canteen.

“I am pleased to see that the Ministry of Labour is taking progressive steps following the Caucus interventions through the ‘Improving Disability-Inclusive Service Delivery’ session held on November 20, 2025. One of our key recommendations was to assess whether physical access in both the new and adjacent buildings was properly designed. We are encouraged that the Ministry and Department acted on this recommendation. Our team, including persons with disabilities, conducted the audit and prepared this report with recommendations in a short period, facilitated by IFES. The next step is implementation. Some improvements can be achieved within this year’s budget, while additional funds may be allocated in the next budget cycle. Furthermore, LKR 1,000 million has been allocated for public accessibility, and additional support may be sought through the Ministry of Social Empowerment and Social Security if needed,” MP Sugath Wasantha De Silva emphasized during the report handover.

The Secretary of the Ministry noted: “This technical report marks an important step toward creating a more inclusive environment. Many older buildings were constructed at a time when social awareness was limited. Today, we must take accessibility seriously within the state sector.” He further added that available departmental funds will be utilized to implement feasible recommendations.

Tikiri Kumara Jayawardena highlighted: “Accessibility means the ability to approach, enter, circulate within a premises, and use services without barriers. Our audit focused on the needs of persons with mobility impairments, including wheelchair users, as well as those with hearing impairments. The team identified 32 issues and proposed 28 recommendations, supported by diagrams and illustrations to guide implementation.”

He further emphasized the importance of prioritization and human sensitivity: “The recommendations have been categorized into immediate, short-term, medium-term, and long-term actions. If implemented within two to three years, this initiative could serve as a model for other state institutions. While the 2006 Gazette was used as a baseline, we also incorporated modern ‘Universal Design’ principles that are widely practiced globally but not yet formally adopted locally.”

Additional recommendations discussed during the session included strengthening awareness among construction consultants and contractors on accessibility standards; providing continuous training for staff on supporting persons with disabilities, including sign language training; and ensuring the application of “reasonable accommodation” principles within labour laws, along with proper guidance for employees at all levels. (Newswire)

04/05/2026

IFES in collaboration with the Election Commission of Sri Lanka conducted a training of trainers on voter education in line with its 2026-2029 Participatory Strategic Plan. District-level focal points were trained on campaign finance, disability inclusion, youth engagement, women’s representation and electoral registration processes. The training strengthened technical knowledge and facilitation skills and utilized interactive methods including mock polls, gallery walks, group work, and scenario-based exercises.

This initiative was implemented by IFES with the support of the Australian High Commission, Sri Lanka.

03/05/2026

She Leads members, together with IFES Sri Lanka, met with the Deputy Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government to present a set of recommendations aimed at strengthening women’s substantive representation in local government. These recommendations were developed through consultations with elected women leaders and supported by expert legal guidance. During the meeting, women leaders shared their lived experiences, which informed the ten proposed measures. The recommendations were formally handed over to the Deputy Minister, who acknowledged their importance and indicated that they would be considered for inclusion in the ongoing amendments to local government legislation, subject to a comprehensive review.

This initiative was led by IFES with the support of the Australian High Commission, in Sri Lanka to promote women’s political participation.

02/05/2026

IFES Sri Lanka, in collaboration with the Parliamentary Caucus for Persons with Disabilities and the National Secretariat for Persons with Disabilities, facilitated a landmark national initiative to establish ministry-led disability accessibility standards in Sri Lanka. Through two rounds of training, District Social Service Officers and disability focal points from seven provinces were equipped to conduct accessibility audits of public spaces and services. The program also marked the formal handover of the draft Accessibility Audit Manual, a key step toward establishing national accessibility standards and strengthening inclusion of persons with disabilities.

The event was joined by MP Hon. Sugath Wasantha de Silva, Chair of the Parliamentary Caucus for Persons with Disabilities; Mr. Sampath Manthrinayake, Secretary to the Ministry of Rural Development Social Security and Community Empowerment; and Ms. Jayamali Wickramasooriya, Director of National Secretariat for Persons with Disabilities, highlighting national commitment to inclusive governance.