Opposition secures majority in CMC standing committees

Colombo, Jan. 14 (Daily Mirror) - The Opposition secured a majority of members in most standing committees of the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) today, including the key Finance Standing Committee, which oversees the council’s financial affairs.

Opposition CMC member Roy Bogahawatta told the Daily Mirror that he, along with Anura Sujeewa, Taranga Athureliya, Dayakantha Perera and Arshad Nizamdeen, had been elected to the Finance Committee. 

“All of us are from the Opposition,” he said.

Mayor Vraie Cally Balthazar and Deputy Mayor Hemantha Weerakoon serve as ex-officio members of the Finance Committee.

Bogahawatta said the Opposition had gained control of the majority of the standing committees, while the ruling National People’s Power (NPP) secured control of only a few.

As a result, the Opposition now commands a majority in the CMC, with 60 members voting in favour of its nominees to the standing committees. This contrasts with the recent budget vote, where 56 members voted against the budget while 58 voted in favour.

Despite the Opposition’s dominance in the standing committees, the ruling party maintains that the Mayor can continue in office. Opposition member Tony Ramzi, who crossed over to the ruling party, said the Mayor would remain strong, noting that under the Local Government Ordinance, the Mayor must head the Finance Committee.