Who will get CMC?

By Yohan Perera   

Failure by all political parties which contested for the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC), to secure a majority has left race open to form the new administration and for the mayor’s post.   

The National People’s Power (NPP) won the most number of seats—48 out of 119—but fell short of the 60 needed to claim a majority and form a council on its own.   

The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) came second with 29 seats, while the United National Party (UNP) secured 13. The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) and Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) won five and four seats respectively.   

With no single party securing a clear majority in the Colombo Municipal Council following the recent election, the next Mayor of Colombo will be chosen through a vote among council members. According to the election law, the mayor is appointed by the majority support of members elected. As a result, the opposition parties, if united, can deny the opportunity to the NPP.   

The SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma bandra said  his party as the largest opposition group in CMC will confer with other opposition political parties.   

CMC has become a hot topic as it has become severely hung council for the first time since 50 years this time. Also the UNP which controlled the CMC has also lost it after more than five decades.