CMC budget will take effect in two weeks: Mayor Balthazaar

• “Our focus remains on delivery and serving the people of this city,” the Mayor said in her Facebook post  

By Yohan Perera   

Colombo Mayor Vraie Cally Balthazaar yesterday said the budget of Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) will take effect in two weeks despite the setback suffered on Monday.   

“We presented a strong, people-focused budget to uplift our city. Though shaped through a consultative process that included opposition input, it was voted down for political reasons rather than substance. The process now moves to a second reading, where amendments can still be submitted. My mandate as Mayor remains unchanged. This budget will take effect in two weeks, and the work we set out to do will continue. Our focus remains on delivery and serving the people of this city,” the Mayor said in her Facebook post.   

Opposition MP Mujibur Rahman who commented on the issue said the joint opposition will take over CMC immediately. “The Mayor will become a puppet when the joint opposition takes over the CMC,” he told media.

The defeat of the CMC budget for the first time in 75 years could bring the council to a standstill given the prevailing circumstances, a former Mayor of CMC said.   

“The budget was taken up on December 22, 2025, just eight days before the year end. A second budget has to be brought in within 14 days as per the Local Government ordinance. 

However, the issue that the council is faced at the moment is that a second budget has to be brought in within four days. The Christmas holiday will dawn on Thursday while the weekend will come thereafter. CMC staff has hardly any time to prepare a second budget. Also, it has to come through the standing committee on finance. The real issue is that the CMC will not be able to spend funds for anything until a new budget is approved. This could bring the CMC to a standstill,” One time Mayor of Colombo Omar Kamil told Daily Mirror.