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SLPP blocks voting on resolution against Moratuwa Mayor

03 Jun 2022

BY Pamodi Waravita  The Moratuwa Municipal Council (MC) has not taken up the vote for a resolution against Moratuwa MC Mayor Saman Lal Fernando, as the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Councillors were against taking up a vote.   Opposition Councillors representing the Moratuwa MC yesterday (2) tabled a resolution at the Council, calling for the resignation of Fernando, who has been arrested with regard to the case of the assault of peaceful protestors at “MynaGoGama” in Kollupitiya and “GotaGoGama” at the Galle Face Green on 9 May.  “We, the Municipal Councillors representing the Opposition at the Moratuwa MC tabled a resolution stating that Mayor Fernando must resign from his position, as he has caused disrepute to the citizens of Moratuwa and is no longer suitable to hold the position as the first citizen of Moratuwa,” Moratuwa Municipal Councillor Lihini Fernando Tweeted yesterday.  Speaking to The Morning yesterday, Moratuwa Municipal Councillor representing the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) Sudesh Indrajith said that when a vote was requested, the SLPP Councillors and Deputy Mayor D. Samantha Silva had opposed it.  “The resolution was tabled in the morning, but the first debate was about some councillors who discussed the personal losses that they faced as a result of the incidents on 9 May, similar to what happened in Parliament. The discussion went on to the resolution too and then the Opposition Councillors called for a vote on the resolution. However, the SLPP Councillors and the Deputy Mayor did not allow this. They also said that it might cause more harm to the Councillors as the public may get angry again. Silva proposed that the resolution be tabled in the next session, when the Mayor is present,” said Indrajith.  Indrajith claimed that Fernando had taken about 400 people, including workers attached to the Moratuwa MC, such as health and sanitation workers, some by force, in eight buses to the meeting of pro-Rajapaksa supporters at the Temple Trees on 9 May.  “He took many health and sanitation workers by force by threatening them. Some went voluntarily. They did not receive any holiday leave either. The MC faced an estimated loss of Rs. 100 million, primarily due to the actions of the Mayor. About 12 vehicles, two ambulances, a truck, and a few three-wheelers belonging to the MC were also burnt in the incidents that followed. Waste collection was also interrupted in the following days, as some workers refused to report to work in fear of public retaliation,” said Indrajith.  Meanwhile, the four councillors representing the JVP at the Moratuwa MC have also written to Western Province (WP) Governor Air Marshal (Retd.) Roshan Goonetileke on Wednesday (1) stating that Fernando’s term as the Mayor must immediately be abolished. “We wanted to meet the Governor, but he did not answer any of our calls. So, we faxed the letter on Wednesday. We do not know whether he received the letter either, as his office has not answered our calls today (2) either. We have requested for an investigation into Fernando’s actions and that his term be halted,” Indrajith told The Morning yesterday.  According to him, Fernando’s term is due to end in March 2023.  “We also support the resolution presented by the Samagi Jana Balawegeya (SJB) and the United National Party (UNP),” said Indrajith.  Fernando was arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), along with a number of other Local Government politicians on 18 May over the attacks that were carried out on 9 May.  On 9 May, supporters of former Prime Minister and incumbent MP Mahinda Rajapaksa gathered at the Temple Trees, where they engaged in chants, asking him not to resign. They were addressed by Rajapaksa and former Minister and incumbent MP Johnston Fernando inside the Temple Trees. Footage on social media shows former Minister and incumbent MP Namal Rajapaksa talking to them as well.  Following this, the crowd assaulted the protestors outside the Temple Trees, at “MynaGoGama”, where they were engaged in a days’ long struggle, demanding his resignation. The crowd then moved towards “GotaGoGama”, where they assaulted “Go Home Gota” protestors, setting fire to many structures near the Galle Face Green, which belonged to the protestors.  Following this, the “GotaGoGama” was rebuilt at the Galle Face Green, with the struggle demanding the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa continuing for over 50 days now. Homes of several MPs have been burnt around the island, including Medamulana, which the Rajapaksa family has named their ancestral home in Hambantota.


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