News
Kandy MC budget suffers historic defeat
The budget of the Kandy Municipal Council has been defeated for the first time in the council’s 152-year history, in what is seen as a reflection of the national level political fissures in local council politics.
The budget was presented by United National Party Mayor Kesera Sennanayke and when a division was called by Opposition Leader Sena Dissanayake, the combined opposition secured 21 votes to defeat the budget by one vote.
The three members of the SLFP and the JVP voted with the Opposition. They were supportive of the UNP until recently.
The opposition leader said the budget had anomalies and as such they would not support it.
Mayor Senanayake later told the media that he was not surprised at the division due to the political situation in the country, but said he would present a second budget within the next fourteen days.
He added that though the budget was defeated, yet the council would function and that it could not be dissolved under the present Act.
In a related development, opposition members boycotted the ‘Budget Dinner ” hosted by the Mayor.
Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Dissanayake was yesterday morning admitted to Kandy Hospital for treatment, the Sunday Times learns.