PRESS RELEASE: The Social Architects’ Children’s Shadow Pradeshiya Sabhas (CSPS) Election – 2023

For the first time in the history of Sri Lanka, children in 10 districts will elect their representatives for the shadow local bodies formed by The Social Architects (TSA), in line with Sri Lankan’s Pradeshiya Sabhas Act. They will establish the first-ever Children’s Shadow Pradeshiya Sabhas (CSPS) in Sri Lanka.

TSA , a Charitable Trust working to promote participatory governance in Sri Lanka, saw the need to popularize the present Sri Lankan Local Governance Structure to the preteens and teens in 10 districts, i.e. Ampara, Anuradhapura, Batticaloa, Rathnapura, Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Matara, Mullaithevu, Nuwara Eliya and Polonnaruwa.

To participate, practice and enjoy democracy at a young age, children between ages 11-15, with the consent of their parents/guardians, will be casting their votes on the 16th of February 2023) for 19 CSPS across the 10 districts mentioned above. They will follow the process parallel to the Local Authorities Elections conducted under the mixed proportional system.

The children have submitted 8 names for each party (Children for Earth; Children for Sustainable Development; Children for Fair Resource Allocation) for every CSPS and, in total, 24 names for each CSPS, i.e. 456 candidates. They also ensured female representation.