Tensions flare at Colombo Municipal Council’s first sitting

16 June 2025 10:02 am Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 8 Bookmark

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Colombo, June 16 (Daily Mirror) - The newly elected Colombo Municipal Council convened for its inaugural session this morning (June 16) at the Town Hall following the Local Government (LG) elections held on May 6.

The election of the Mayor and Deputy Mayor was scheduled as the first item on the agenda.

As no party has secured an outright majority at the election, both the National People’s Power (NPP) and the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) have in recent days claimed they have garnered the support of other factions to elect their preferred mayoral candidate.

During the meeting, the NPP nominated Vraie Cally Balthazaar as its candidate for Mayor, while the SJB proposed Riza Zarook.

A tense situation arose during the proceedings, with some councillors demanding a secret ballot for the mayoral election, while others called on Western Province Local Government Commissioner Sarangika Jayasundara to conduct an open vote.

Comments - 8

Hadi Monday, 16 June 2025 10:27 AM

An open or secret vote for the wining Mayor should be decided by the majority of members of the council of sitting members .

1 15

Lion Monday, 16 June 2025 10:42 AM

Secret vote hide the identity of the voters for any candidate

1 10

Ram P Monday, 16 June 2025 12:02 PM

If we elect the MPs and Local Council members by secret ballot. those elected must elect their leader too by secret ballot. That is not an issue

2 4

M Fernando Monday, 16 June 2025 07:41 PM

did you participate in open voting in any election ? did you run around waving your ballot for all to see ? the loser only objected to the method AFTER he discovered he lost. He should have brought up the objections BEFORE the election took place.

0 0

Paticitz Monday, 16 June 2025 10:58 AM

The NPP deserves to hold the Mayoral Seat, sideling those groups of Genociders i.e. SJB out from the scene.

2 12

Ram P Monday, 16 June 2025 11:54 AM

These pavement hawkers must be returned to the Pettah pavement to keep shouting and sell their stuff. If this is their conduct on the first day what can we expect from them in time to come

5 9

ANNE CUNT Monday, 16 June 2025 04:08 PM

what a beautiful lady with a fullmoon smile

0 2

R Navaratnam Monday, 16 June 2025 05:42 PM

Pained to see the state of the friendly country, Sri Lanka.

0 0

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