• Beats SJB candidate by 7 votes in secret ballot, 2 votes rejected

Colombo Municipal Councillor Vraie Cally Balthazaar of the ruling National People’s Power (NPP) was yesterday (16) elected as the new Mayoress of the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC).

Balthazaar was elected the new Colombo Mayor following a secret ballot. During the secret ballot, 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 Department of Local Government (LG) of the Western Province Commissioner Sarangika Jayasundara who presided over the voting.

Earlier, the proposal to hold a secret ballot to elect the Mayor of the CMC was passed unanimously. Although a decision was taken to hold a secret ballot in agreement with all councillors, initially, the SJB and the United National Party (UNP) requested an open vote. However, the NPP councillors opposed the proposal. Subsequently, a heated situation arose in the council regarding whether the Mayor is to be elected through a secret ballot or by holding an open vote. Following a lengthy exchange, the councillors agreed to hold a secret ballot to elect the new Mayor.

Jayasundara then announced that two names have been proposed for the post of the Mayor. Accordingly, the NPP had proposed the name of Balthazaar while the SJB had nominated the name of Zarook for the post of the Mayor.

Following the counting of the votes, which took place at the Town Hall, Jayasundara announced that Balthazaar has been elected as the new Mayor of Colombo.

The newly elected CMC, following the conduct of the LG Elections on 6 May, convened for the inaugural sitting yesterday morning. The sitting commenced at 9.30 a.m. under the patronage of Jayasundara. The gazette extraordinary regarding the first sitting of the CMC was issued by Jayasundara.

No party obtained an outright majority following the conduct of the LG Elections and therefore, both the NPP and the SJB announced in recent days that they had secured the backing of other political factions to elect a Mayor. According to the LG Election results, the NPP secured 48 seats, the SJB obtained 29 seats, the UNP won 13 seats, and the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna gained five seats. Additionally, the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress received four seats, Independent Group Number Three obtained three seats, the Sarvajana Balaya received two seats, and the United Peace Alliance also secured two seats, according to the Election results. Independent Groups No. 4 and No.5 received two seats each.

Furthermore, the United Republic Front, the National People’s Party, the National Freedom Front, the Podujana United Front, the Democratic National Alliance, Independent Groups No. 1, and No. 2 each received one seat. However, to establish power in the CMC, which consists of 117 seats, a party must secure at least 59 seats. Accordingly, a vote was taken to elect the Mayor and the Deputy Mayor of the CMC.