Sri Lanka's minister of provincial councils and local government, Faiszer Musthapha said that provincial council elections would all be held on one day, which would be next year at the earliest.
Three provincial councils elections, including that in the Eastern province were due to be held this October.
"Terms of some of the Councils will end this year, while for some PCs the terms will end in 2019," Mr Musthapha was quoted by Ceylon Today as saying.
"The Government is planning to hold all the elections on one day when the tenures of all the PCs have expired," he added.
The postponement of the provincial councils has been deeply criticised by local election monitors and the Joint Opposition.