IFES Sri Lanka

03/09/2026

There is no single model for Overseas Voting.

Countries around the world have designed Overseas Voting systems that reflect their legal frameworks, administrative capacity, and the geographic distribution of their citizens abroad. Today, nearly three-quarters of countries and territories allow some form of voting from abroad.

From embassy voting in Australia and the Maldives to online voting in the Philippines and digital registration systems in Bangladesh, the global experience demonstrates that multiple approaches are possible.

Swipe to explore how different countries make Overseas Voting work.

01/09/2026

What exactly is Overseas Voting?

OCV refers to the different ways countries enable eligible citizens living abroad to participate in elections and referendums. While the principle is simple, implementation varies widely. Some countries use embassies and consulates, others rely on postal voting, internet voting, proxy voting, or a combination of methods. Each approach comes with benefits, costs, and administrative challenges. Swipe through to learn the basics of OCV and the different models used around the world.

01/09/2026

International human rights standards recognize the right of citizens to participate in elections without unreasonable restrictions. For millions of people who live, work, or study overseas, maintaining a connection to home is not only about family, culture, or remittances. It is also about civic participation.

Today, around 119 countries and territories have established mechanisms that allow eligible citizens abroad to vote.

This week, we will explore what overseas voting is, how different countries make it work, and what it could mean for Sri Lanka.

23/08/2026

The first district-level Accessibility Audit Report and National Road Map for the Sethsiripaya administrative complex Stage I and II were presented at the Ministry of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment. The Audit Report identified key accessibility gaps and practical recommendations for improvement, while the National Road Map outlined steps to institutionalize accessibility audits across Sri Lanka’s public sector.

With support from the Australian Government through IFES Sri Lanka’s Strengthening Governance program, the National Secretariat for Persons with Disabilities developed the Accessibility Audit Manual and trained accessibility audit teams across 17 districts. The Sethsiripaya audit marked the first district-level practical audit under this initiative.

22/08/2026

The Sri Lanka Institute of Local Governance launched its Strategic Plan 2026–2030. The five-year plan sets out SLILG’s priorities to strengthen institutional capacity, advance inclusive and citizen-centered local governance, and support local authorities to deliver more responsive, accountable, and equitable public services.

The development of the plan was supported through the International Foundation for Electoral Systems’ Strengthening Governance Program, funded by the Australian Government, reinforcing sustainable and inclusive local governance in Sri Lanka.

15/08/2026

Join our PAVE dialog series happening today!

Hear from an inspiring lineup of young people who are shaping ideas and leading the way for a more inclusive future.

The session will be conducted in Sinhala and Tamil.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Get ready for PAVE Dialogue Series – Week 02 on Youth Participation in Building Sri Lanka’s Democratic Future.

🗓️ 15 & 16 August | 🕢 7.30 PM – 8.30 PM
💻 Google Meet

The session link will be shared in the WhatsApp group for registered participants.

31/07/2026

29/07/2026

IFES Sri Lanka met with the Secretary to the Ministry of Rural Development, Community Empowerment and Social Rehabilitation to finalize an Accessibility Audit Manual that will contribute to creating more accessible and inclusive public spaces for persons with disabilities across Sri Lanka.

The meeting also focused on supporting the Government's ongoing initiative to utilize a LKR 1 billion allocation for improving accessibility in public spaces by mobilizing district-level accessibility groups, integrating accessibility standards into future public infrastructure projects, and exploring the establishment of a national coordination mechanism to oversee implementation.

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

27/07/2026

IFES Sri Lanka supported in organizing a panel discussion at the media sensitization workshop organized by the Ministry of Mass Media to strengthen journalists' understanding of disability rights and promote more accurate, respectful, and inclusive media reporting.

Bringing together disability inclusion experts and representatives of organizations of persons with disabilities, the panel shared lived experiences and practical guidance on disability-inclusive terminology, ethical reporting practices, and the importance of sign language inclusion.

This initiative was supported by IFES Sri Lanka through the Strengthening Governance Program, funded by the Government.

25/07/2026

IFES Sri Lanka together with the DIESL Working Group convened an expert consultation to develop recommendations on disability inclusion to be submitted to the Parliamentary Select Committee reviewing election laws.

The consultation brought together members of the DIESL Working Group, election observation organizations, disability inclusion experts, legal professionals, and Election Commission's disability focal points to identify reforms that would strengthen accessibility and promote the meaningful participation of persons with disabilities in electoral processes.

The recommendations have been formally submitted to the Parliamentary Select Committee as part of the ongoing electoral law reform process.

DIESL is Zero Project Award-winning Disability Inclusive Elections in Sri Lanka working group. This initiative was implemented under IFES' Strengthening Governance Program with funding from the Australian Government.