National People's Power (NPP) nominee Vraie Cally Balthazaar was elected as the Colombo Municipal Council Mayor, in a secret vote held in the Council today,
She received 61 votes.
Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) nominee Riza Zarook, backed by several other parties received only 54 votes.
Two of the 117 votes were rejected.
Mr Hemantha Kumara was elected as the Deputy Mayor.
Earlier in the day Commissioner of the Department of Local Government of the Western Province, Sarangika Jayasundara presiding over the session to conduct the vote decided that a secret ballot should be held to elect the Mayor.
However, SJB and UNP members objected to the conduct of a secret ballot while the NPP called that a secret ballot be held.
For more than an hour members from both sides debated whether a secret or open ballot should be held.
At Local Government elections the National People’s Power (NPP) won 48 seats while the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) received 29 seats.
The United National Party (UNP) secured 13 seats, and the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) gained 5 seats, the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress received 4 seats, Independent Group No. 03 obtained three seats, the Sarvajana Balaya received two seats, and the United Peace Alliance also secured two seats. Independent Groups No. 04 and 05 received two seats each.
One seat each was received by the Podujana United Front, the United Republic Front, the National People’s Party, the National Freedom Front, the Democratic National Alliance, Independent Group No. 01, and Independent Group No. 02 each received one seat.
Pix by M.A.Pushpakumara.
Counting of votes in progress
Members discussing the manner the vote should be held.
The annoucement of the results
Commissioner of the Department of Local Government of the Western Province, Sarangika Jayasundara with the new Mayor
The Voting in progress.
During 1950s, as I remember Dr. N.M.Perera was the mayor, and during that period Colombo was the cleanest city in Asia. We enjoyed the ride in clean, and desciplined trolley buses. Fort, and Maradana raiway stations were tidy, orderly with waiting rooms,and restaurents (specially at Fort. There was a book shop at Fort station run by McCallums. There were also posters of the then CEYLON displayed on the platforms. I trust that you will be able to bring back that glory to the city.
The final rites of veteran broadcaster, writer, and lyricist Nirmala de Alwis will be held today at Peradeniya.
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