Opposition threaten legal action over unfair appointment of Special Commissioners to Local Bodies

18 July 2025 09:10 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 5 Bookmark

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Colombo, July 18 (Daily Mirror) - The government’s plan to vest certain dysfunctional local bodies under special commissioners has sparked controversy, with opposition parties threatening legal action if such measures are implemented unfairly.

Minister of Local Government and Provincial Councils, Chandana Abayarathna, announced that local bodies which are unable to form proper administrations—particularly those deadlocked in electing chairpersons and deputy chairpersons—will be brought under the control of special commissioners. Furthermore, council members who deliberately absent themselves from meetings to obstruct proceedings will face suspension.

“The commissioners of local bodies have been instructed to submit reports to the respective provincial governors within three months,” Minister Abayarathna said. “Based on these reports, governors will take steps to remove members who intentionally avoid council meetings, thereby disrupting quorum. We will also take action to appoint special commissioners to administer such bodies. The Attorney General’s advice has already been sought on this matter,” he added.

However, opposition voices have raised concerns about the fairness and legality of these measures. Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) National Organiser, Tissa Attanayake, stated that his party is prepared to take legal action if the government acts unjustly.

“There are indeed legal provisions to appoint a special commissioner if a council fails to elect a chairperson and deputy chairperson on two occasions,” Attanayake acknowledged. “But many opposition members are boycotting meetings due to undue pressure exerted by the ruling party on state officials. In places like the Seethawaka Pradeshiya Sabha, local commissioners are being influenced to hold secret ballots, skewing the election process. We will take legal action against this particular action.”

Seethawaka and Anamaduwa local bodies as examples where the election of chairpersons and deputy chairpersons has become a deadlock due to lack of quorum, according to the Minister, while the situation is the same at the Galigamuwa Pradeshiya Sabha.

Comments - 5

PereraMan Friday, 18 July 2025 11:35 PM

Either allow votes to take place or sit down and shut up. All these people are doing is making sure they continue this farce of stalling and theatrics while the people in these local authority areas suffer. If this is how they expect to get elected again, they're in for a rude awakening!

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Sam Saturday, 19 July 2025 03:58 AM

Hi Tissa, please read the Local Government Act properly before you initiate legal actions. You already lost the previous court case. We as party supported get disappointed when our party leadership continue to harness defeats one after another, not just in the elections but also in our legal system. Invest time and energy to reorganize the party with a unique identity. At the moment we have no clear direction.

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Lion Saturday, 19 July 2025 06:15 AM

Opposition will face the same fate they faced in the legal tussle against the commissioner of the Colombo municipality.

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Realistica Adams Saturday, 19 July 2025 06:41 AM

What is Minister Abayaratne doing about reforming outdated inefficient systems and processes in councils. Rate payers have to go from pillar to post at many councils to get anything done. Is the minister bringing system change to facilitate better services? This should be uniform whether the council is in Jaffna or Matara.

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Dr Soori Maripalan Sunday, 20 July 2025 03:31 AM

As SJB has nothing to do now, may appoint the lawyer Gammanpila to represent your case? He is a wondePUL Hora!

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