• Alleges financial inducements to the elected to establish admin. control in LG bodies sans NPP majority  
• Rahman Claims discussions ongoing with legal advisors; complaint to be filed when consultations are complete

The main Opposition, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), is preparing to lodge a complaint with the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC), calling for an investigation into alleged attempts by the ruling National People's Power (NPP) to secure support in Local Government (LG) bodies – where it lacks a majority – by offering financial provisions to elected councilors and members.

Speaking to The Daily Morning, SJB Parliamentarian Mujibur Rahman said that discussions are ongoing with legal advisors, and that the related complaint will be filed as soon as the legal consultations are complete. "The Government is making moves to win over independent groups and members of other parties in LG bodies where it doesn’t have a majority. These so-called financial provisions are nothing but bribes in disguise," Rahman said.

NPP General Secretary and Government MP, Dr. Nihal Abeysinghe was not available for comment.

In the recent LG Elections held on 6 May, the ruling NPP secured the largest number of LG bodies – winning majorities in 339. However, it did not secure more than 50% of the total representation in many of them as the Opposition political parties and independent groups had collectively surpassed the NPP.

Overall, the NPP secured 3,926 councilors and members but managed to take full control of only around 115 LG bodies. The SJB came in second with 1,766 seats, followed by the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna with 742. The United National Party and the People’s Alliance secured 381 and 300 seats, respectively, while the newly-formed Sarvajana Balaya won 226.