Deadlock halts election of Chairpersons in three Local Bodies

Colombo, June 27 (Daily Mirror) - Votes to appoint chairpersons for the Bandaragama, Weligama and Seethawaka Pradeshiya Sabhas have ended in dramatic deadlocks, following heated clashes between members of the National People's Power (NPP) and opposition groups.

Mahesh Kotelawala, an opposition member of the Bandaragama Pradeshiya Sabha, told the Daily Mirror that the opposition had demanded an open vote, citing provisions in the local government law. “We, the 18 members of the joint opposition, insisted on an open vote. However, the Local Government Commissioner for the Western Province, Sarangika Jayasundara, called for a secret ballot,” Kotelawala said.

According to him, only the 16 NPP members supported a secret ballot, while the rest backed an open vote. During the vote, the 16 NPP members were joined by one National Freedom Front (NFF) member, bringing the NPP-led group to 17 votes. The opposition bloc also claimed 17 votes, openly supporting the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) nominee. As a result, the vote ended in a 17–17 tie, with no clear majority.

The Commissioner then proposed deciding the outcome by drawing lots—a method allowed under local government law in the event of a tie. However, a chaotic altercation broke out between the NPP and opposition members, ultimately preventing the draw from taking place. Consequently, the election was postponed indefinitely.

Minister of Health and Mass Media, Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, who was present during the proceedings, accused the opposition of deliberately disrupting the vote. “The opposition disrupted the election process because they lacked a majority and couldn’t accept their defeat,” he told the media.

A similar situation unfolded in Weligama, where the vote to elect the chairman could not be held due to another drama.

The NPP members caused havoc when the vote was taken up, alleging that the opposition had abducted two of its members. “Around 200 NPP supporters stormed in and almost took the Local Government Commissioner of Southern Province hostage, forcing him to postpone the election,” Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Organiser for Weligama Rehan Jayawickrama, told Daily Mirror. He denied the allegation made by the NPP that two of its members had been abducted by the opposition.

The vote to elect the Chairman of Seethawaka Pradeshiya Sabha has also been postponed because of commotions.

All three local bodies are now in limbo, and the political impasse highlights deepening tensions at the grassroots level of governance.