Voting in the 3 May 2025 Federal Election 

The Australian Federal Election has been announced for Saturday 3 May 2025. If you’re an Australian citizen overseas on the day of the election, you can still have your say by voting at on overseas voting centre or by postal vote.

In-Person Voting

You will be able to vote in-person at the Australian High Commission in Colombo according to this schedule below:

• Address: 21 Srimath RG Senanayake Mawatha Colombo 7

 

Day	Opening Hours
Monday 21 April	10:00am to 3pm
Tuesday 22 April	10:00am to 3pm
Wednesday 23 April	10:00am to 3pm
Thursday 24 April	10:00am to 3pm
Friday 25 April	10:00am to 3pm
Saturday 26 April	Closed
Sunday 27 April	Closed
Monday 28 April	10:00am to 3pm
Tuesday 29 April	10:00am to 3pm
Wednesday 30 April	10:00am to 3pm
Thursday 1 May	Closed – May Day Holiday
Friday 2 May	10:00am to 3pm

Please note that all times are local to this polling place (Sri Lankan Standard Time).

 

What to expect at the Australian High Commission

• You do not need an appointment to vote.
• You must present photo ID (e.g. Driver’s licence or Passport) for entry to the Australian High Commission
• Entry to the Australian High Commission will be subject to standard security screening process.

 

Postal Voting

If you are overseas and are unable to vote in-person, you can visit the AEC website to apply for a postal vote.

Postal vote packs will be sent to you by international courier from Australia commencing three weeks before polling day. The latest date to request an overseas postal vote from the AEC is 6pm, Wednesday 30 April 2025 AWST (Australian Western Standard Time). If you provided an email address or phone number when applying for a postal vote, you will receive an automatic notification when it is dispatched.

If you did not provide an email address or phone number and your postal vote does not arrive within 10 days from the date you submitted your application, call the AEC on +61 2 6160 2600.

You can mail your completed postal vote to the Australian High Commission in Colombo or drop it off in person no later than 3:00pm on Friday, 2 May 2025.

You can also return your postal vote directly to the AEC in Australia. The cost to return your postal vote by courier or mail to the Australian High Commission in Colombo or to the AEC in Australia is your responsibility.

For your postal vote to be counted it must be completed before 6pm AWST time 3 May 2025, and received by the AEC in Australia by 6pm Friday 16 May 2025 AEST.

 

Further information

You must be enrolled to vote. You can enrol, update your details or check your details on the AEC website.

If you can't vote because you are overseas, you need to advise the AEC by completing an Overseas Notification Form.

Find additional information on the election and voting at these websites:

aec.gov.au

Smartraveller.gov.au

High Commissioner to Sri Lanka

His Excellency Paul Stephens 

High Commissioner's Welcome

Welcome to the Australian High Commission’s website, where you will find a wide range of information about our role and responsibilities in Sri Lanka.

With Sri Lanka, Australia has been a close friend and partner since before independence, underpinned by extensive bilateral cooperation and people-to-people links. Australia’s Sri Lankan community of 170,000 people makes a significant contribution to Australian society. Our relationship encompasses development cooperation, education and close collaboration on countering people smuggling. We support Sri Lanka as it makes progress towards meaningful reconciliation.

On challenges in the Indo-Pacific region, Australia works actively with Sri Lanka to address shared interests, including the threats posed by transnational crime.

For Australians travelling or living in Sri Lanka, I recommend subscribing to the latest Travel Advice to receive updates through Smartraveller:

Sri Lanka: https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/asia/sri-lanka

Also remember to follow Smartraveller on Facebook and Twitter!

 

Important changes to Smartraveller 

Smartraveller has the latest, authoritative travel advice so you can be informed and prepared about overseas travel. Subscribe to receive travel advice updates - by simply supplying your name and email address – straight to your inbox.

You can now also subscribe to the new SMS service - by supplying your mobile number – to receive critical alerts in the event of a crisis overseas.

In a crisis, Smartraveller will activate a crisis page on its website. It will make it easier for you or someone you know to contact the Australian Government if you need help. It will supplement the consular emergency hotline.

Visit www.smartraveller.gov.au to subscribe or connect with Smartraveller on Facebook and Twitter.

 

LATEST NEWS

Sydney World Pride Reception 2023 

On 30 March 2023, High Commissioner Paul Stephens hosted an event at Australia House to celebrate the success of Sydney World Pride 2023 and bring together LGBTIQ activists, representatives from the Sri Lankan government and police force as well as the diplomatic corps for an evening of conversation and networking on issues around gender diversity and Sri Lanka. 

75^th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations between Australia and Sri Lanka 

On 27 January 2023, High Commissioner Paul Stephens hosted a reception to celebrate the 75^th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Australia and Sri Lanka. This event was attended by key Sri Lankan government officials, members of the diplomatic community and other partners across development, education, trade and investment sectors. 

Australia's support for COVID-19 preparedness, response and recovery in Sri Lanka

The strong friendship between Australia and Sri Lanka goes back more than 70 years. In the unprecedented global crisis unfolding as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s more important than ever that friends continue to support each other. The COVID-19 pandemic represents a significant challenge for governments and communities globally - including Australia. Our support will help Sri Lanka prepare for, and prevent, the spread of COVID-19, and to manage the social and economic impacts to come.

Further detail on our support can be found here.

International Students in Australia 

The Australian Government recognises that COVID-19 is affecting international students in Australia, who are friends, colleagues, classmates and members of the Australian community. On 4 April 2020, the Australian Minister for Education, the Hon Dan Tehan MP, said the Australian Government had agreed that:

   -   international students who had been in Australia for longer than 12 months who find themselves in financial hardship would be able to access their Australian superannuation

   -   international students would be able to work up to 40 hours per fortnight

   -   the Government would increase flexibility for a number of regulations to make it easier for international students to continue their studies in  Australia should they wish to do so

   -   the Government would be flexible in cases where COVID-19 has prevent international students from meeting their visa conditions (such as not being able to attend classes).   

A factsheet for International Students in Australia can be found here.

More information can be found at the Study in Australia webpage.