President of Sri Lanka Ranil Wickremesinghe arrives for the Berlin Global Dialogue conference at the European School of Management and Technology in Berlin on Sept 28, 2023. (PHOTO / AFP)

COLOMBO — Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe told parliament on Wednesday that the presidential election and the parliamentary election will both be held in 2024.

The president made this statement while delivering a special statement in parliament on several pressing matters, including the crisis faced by cricket, one of Sri Lanka's most popular sports.

The country's elections commission postponed local government elections earlier this year indefinitely

The president denied allegations that he would postpone elections.

READ MORE: Sri Lanka postpones local elections amid lack of funds

He added that the government will hold provincial council and local government elections in 2025.

The country's elections commission postponed local government elections earlier this year indefinitely after the government declared inadequate funding available to hold elections.

READ MORE: Sri Lanka to hold elections for local councils in March

State Minister for Plantations, Enterprise Reforms and Finance Ranjith Siyambalapitiya has announced that a dedicated allocation of 10 billion rupees ($30.5 million) has been reserved for potential future elections.