• Notes issues due to irregular/illegal projects
• NPP wins Kolonnawa UC while SJB wins Kuliyapitiya UC 

Efforts will be taken to transform Colombo into one of the most developed Cities in the world, newly appointed Mayor Vraie Cally Balthazaar said after assuming duties in the new post yesterday (18).

Balthazaar of the National People’s Power (NPP) took oaths as the 26th Mayor of the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC), yesterday. She was elected the new Colombo Mayor following a secret ballot on Monday (16). During the secret ballot, Councilor Balthazaar received 61 votes while Riza Zarook of the main Opposition, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), obtained 54 votes. Two votes were rejected, according to the Commissioner of the Department of Local Government (LG) of the Western Province, Sarangika Jayasundara who presided over the voting.

Speaking to the media after assuming duties, Mayor Balthazaar stated that she considers her victory to be the result of a collective effort and not something achieved on her own. She further stated that she hopes to address the issues faced by the people of Colombo from the outset. Referring to the people’s unified message, "Change this City", Mayor Balthazaar acknowledged that the responsibility of transforming Colombo now lies with them. Although Colombo is the wealthiest city in Sri Lanka, it is currently overshadowed by its darker side, she noted. Balthazaar pointed out that numerous issues have arisen in Colombo due to irregular or illegal projects and stressed that these problems must be resolved promptly. Balthazaar noted that Colombo will succeed only through the collective efforts of all 117 Councillors working together beyond party and political affiliations.

Following the conduct of the 2025 LG Election in the CMC, the NPP secured 48 seats while the SJB claimed 29 seats. The United National Party (UNP) won 13 seats in the CMC.

Meanwhile, the NPP has established power in the Kolonnawa Urban Council (UC). A heated situation was reported yesterday, when a vote was called to elect the Chairperson of the Kolonnawa UC. The NPP won nine seats in the Kolonnawa UC, while Opposition parties secured 10 seats at the LG Election. However, due to the heated situation, nine Opposition Councillors left the Council chamber. Susil Kumara, who received the highest number of votes from the SJB, remained and expressed his support for the NPP. Accordingly, Dhammika Wijayamuni of the NPP was elected the Chairperson of the Kolonnawa UC after securing 10 votes in the secret ballot and Saman Seneviratna was elected to the position of the Deputy Chairperson. 

Meanwhile, voting for the election of the Chairperson of the Kuliyapitiya UC also took place yesterday in the Council chamber. SJB’s W.P. Gamini Karunaratne was elected the Chairperson with nine votes, while the NPP’s Nirosh Janaka received only five votes. Wilfred Silva of the UNP, who received nine votes, was elected the Deputy Chairperson, while NPP’s Jayathilake Adhikari was defeated. Accordingly, the Commissioner of LG, H.M. Sanjeewani Herath, officially announced that Karunaratne has been selected as the Chairperson of the Kuliyapitiya UC.