Elections of all Municipalities, Urban councils and Pradeshiya sabhas are to be held on the same day in January 2011, sources said.

As the extended period of local government institutions expire in March 2011, the government hopes to conduct elections in January.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa will take oath for the 2nd term in November and after the budget debate is held, all local government institutions will be dissolved in December.

As a result of the three decade war, the government was unable to conduct local government elections on the same day. However, this time the government has taken steps to hold elections of local government institutions in all provinces including the North and East on the same day.

The government also hopes to utilize the first past the post and proportional representation systems at the elections and will abolish the present local government act and instead will enact a new act.