The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) successfully secured control of the Beruwala Pradeshiya Sabha today (20), a local council where the opposition holds a majority based on the recent local government election results.
Faizer Naseer, the SJB candidate, was elected as the new Chairman of the Beruwala Pradeshiya Sabha. Notably, this opposition victory occurred while Health and Mass Media Minister Nalinda Jayatissa was present in the council.
In related developments, the SJB also secured power in the Galle Rajgama Pradeshiya Sabha today, with Dulaj Tharanga elected as its new chairman. Similarly, in the Matale Laggala Pallehama Pradeshiya Sabha, the SJB gained control, and Bandula Padmasiri was elected as the new chairman.
Meanwhile, Priyantha Godagama Sahabandu, who was appointed as the Deputy Mayor of the Galle Municipal Council in alliance with the Jathika Jana Balawegaya (JJB), has had his party membership suspended. This decision was announced in a statement signed by Attorney-at-Law Sagar Kariyawasam, the General Secretary of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP).
The statement indicates that disciplinary action will be taken against Mr. Godagama. The SLPP had previously informed him on how to act during the election of the Mayor and Deputy Mayor of the Galle Municipal Council. However, the statement asserts that Mr. Godagama acted contrary to party instructions during the vote, which resulted in his election as Deputy Mayor.
Consequently, his SLPP party membership has been suspended with immediate effect, and he has lost all rights to positions and responsibilities within the party.
As reported by InfoSriLanka.lk several months ago, Deputy Minister of Finance, Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma, is slated to become the new Secretary to the Ministry of Finance. It is understood that he has resigned from his parliamentary seat to take on this new position.
During today’s parliamentary session, Dr. Suriyapperuma was reportedly granted an additional five minutes for his address, signaling his impending transition.
The former Secretary to the Ministry of Finance, Mahinda Siriwardena, recently retired and is expected to depart to assume a directorial role at the Asian Development Bank.
Dr. Suriyapperuma is a qualified Chartered Management Accountant (CIMA) and holds an MBA from the Postgraduate Institute of Management, along with a Doctorate in Business Networking and Performance from the University of Management and Science.
He has extensive experience in finance and administration within the private sector, and notably served as the Director of Corporate Affairs at the Securities and Exchange Commission of Sri Lanka from 2013 to 2021. Since 2022, he has also been a member of the Economic Council of the National People’s Power (NPP). He was appointed as a National List Member of Parliament for the NPP in the 2024 general election.
Attempts to contact Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma for comment were unsuccessful.
The opposition, led by the Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB), secured significant victories in the local council elections, gaining control of the Neluwa Pradeshiya Sabha in the Galle district, along with the chairmanship, today (17). This outcome reflects the opposition’s majority in the Galle district following the recent local government elections.
Ajith Chandana of the SJB was elected as the chairman of the Neluwa Pradeshiya Sabha after securing the majority vote in the election held today.
In a similar vein, the SJB’s Mohamed Mahdi was elected as the mayor of the Kynniya Municipal Council in the Trincomalee district, having also obtained the majority of votes in the election. Furthermore, the Ratnapura Pradeshiya Sabha also fell under the control of the opposition.
Hikkaduwa Liyanage Nimal Munasinghe of the SJB was appointed as the chairman of the Ratnapura Pradeshiya Sabha after gaining the majority in the voting process.
However, the election for the new chairman of the Seethawaka Pradeshiya Sabha, scheduled for today, was postponed indefinitely.
The voting process commenced under the guidance of the Western Province Commissioner, Sarangika Jayasundara. During the session, two proposals were presented regarding the voting method – whether it should be a secret ballot or an open vote.
As the Commissioner held the authority to decide, she opted for a secret ballot. This decision led to a protest by 24 members who walked out of the council chamber.
Consequently, the lack of a quorum forced the Commissioner to adjourn the council for 30 minutes. Despite the recess, the situation did not improve, leading to the indefinite postponement of the Seethawaka Pradeshiya Sabha meeting.
As a result, the appointment of a chairman and vice-chairman for the Seethawaka Pradeshiya Sabha did not take place today.
Vraie Cally Balthazaar has been elected as the Mayor of Colombo with 61 votes in an election held during the Colombo Municipal Council’s inaugural meeting yesterday (16th). The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) candidate, Reza Sarook, received only 54 votes.
This outcome comes despite the SJB presenting a list of 62 signatures purportedly supporting their candidate the day before. When they requested an open vote yesterday, they still only managed to secure 54 votes, indicating that eight signatories had voted against their stated intention.
The process of electing the mayor was contentious, with disagreements arising over whether to hold a secret or open ballot. The SJB and the United National Party (UNP) had requested an open vote, while the opposition threatened legal action against the Provincial Commissioner if a secret ballot was held.
Following her victory in what was ultimately a secret ballot, the newly elected Mayor Kylie Balthazar stated that all 117 council members should unite to develop Colombo.
Meanwhile, SJB representative Waruna Deeptha Rajapaksa alleged at a press conference that the Provincial Commissioner of Local Government, Sarangika Jayasundara, had not followed the guidelines of the Ministry of Public Administration in the mayoral election. He further claimed that key government ministers and deputy ministers held a secret discussion with state officials regarding this matter the previous day.
Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa also made a special statement yesterday, highlighting guidelines issued by the Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils, and Local Government in 2025 concerning the election of chairpersons and deputy chairpersons in instances where no single party or independent group secures over 50% of the total membership in a local authority. He stated that while the SJB and the opposition had gained control of several councils by adhering to these guidelines, the current government was exerting pressure to alter them.
Premadasa pointed out that page 7 of these guidelines details the process for deciding on a secret or open vote, including questioning each member by name. He accused authorities and local government commissioners of unilaterally changing these guidelines in various areas because the SJB and the opposition were gaining power in councils by following them.
The Opposition Leader expressed gratitude to the local government commissioners who implemented the guidelines correctly. He questioned how a request for an open vote, signed by 60 Colombo Municipal Council members, could be disregarded. He also demanded to know which parties had pressured officials to change the guidelines and implement their agendas, despite earlier assurances that the guidelines would be followed. Premadasa condemned the blatant violation of these guidelines in Colombo and several other local authorities as a blow to democracy.
He further alleged that there were pressures from higher authorities to deviate from these guidelines, leading to their disregard in several places, which he deemed a violation of democracy and fundamental rights due to the inconsistency between open and secret ballots in different areas. Premadasa vowed to take all necessary steps against this anti-democratic action.
Duminda Nagamuwa of the Frontline Socialist Party stated that the recent secret ballot for Colombo Municipal Council positions indicated that the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) had also started engaging in political deals.
In a separate incident, UNP council member for the Colombo Municipal Council, Uluwaduuge Sandamali, was reportedly seriously injured and admitted to the Colombo National Hospital following an assault by activists of the National People’s Power (NPP).
The injured council member is currently receiving treatment in the emergency care unit of the Colombo National Hospital. A complaint has been filed with the police station at the hospital regarding the incident. Further reports indicate that the political attack occurred near Uluwaduuge Sandamali’s office.
The council member was reportedly attacked while recording NPP activists behaving disruptively and setting off firecrackers near her office on her mobile phone. A video reportedly shows the council member’s account of the brutal attack.
It has been reported that the council member, who was subjected to a collective assault by a group of NPP activists, cried for help, and her husband and several neighbors came to her aid, only to be assaulted themselves.
Despite the assault, the council member was eventually taken to the hospital with the assistance of a passing vehicle.
According to the results of the recent local government elections, the NPP secured 48 seats out of the 117 total seats in the Colombo Municipal Council, while the SJB won 29 seats. The UNP obtained 13 seats, the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna 5 seats, the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress 4 seats, and the Sarvajana Bala Wegaya 2 seats. The remaining seats were distributed among other political parties and independent groups.
In a surprising turn of events at the recent local authority elections, Vraie Cally Balthazaar of the National People’s Power (NPP) has been elected as the Mayor of the Colombo Municipal Council, despite no single party securing a majority.
Ms. Balthazaar secured 61 votes, narrowly defeating Mr. Riza Sarook, who received 54 votes.
The inaugural meeting of the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) has commenced today (16) amidst a tense atmosphere. No single party secured a majority in the recent local government elections. The meeting is being presided over by the Western Province Local Government Commissioner, Sarangika Jayasundara.
A heated debate has erupted within the council regarding the method of electing the Mayor – whether it will be through a secret ballot or an open vote.
A relevant gazette notification was recently issued by the Local Government Commissioner. According to the notification, the first order of business at the meeting held at the Colombo Town Hall is the election of the new Mayor and Deputy Mayor.
According to the results of the local government elections, the Janatha Janatha Peramuna (JJB) secured 48 seats out of the total 117 in the CMC. In comparison, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) won 29 seats. The United National Party (UNP) obtained 13 seats, the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) secured 5 seats, the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) gained 4 seats, and the Sarwajana Bala obtained 2 seats. The remaining seats were distributed among other political parties and independent groups.
As no party obtained more than 50 percent of the seats in the election results, a vote is scheduled to be held at today’s inaugural meeting to elect the key officials of the Colombo Municipal Council.
Meanwhile, the Sarwajana Bala executive committee has decided to support the candidate nominated by the opposition parties contesting for the mayoral position of the Colombo Municipal Council. Accordingly, Sarwajana Bala will vote against the candidate of the National People’s Power (NPP).
The government has removed its pledge to eliminate the pensions and special benefits of retired presidents and their families from the action plan of the Ministry of Justice and National Integration. This revelation comes from a document obtained through the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
The policy shift follows a March circular issued by the secretary to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, which directed ministries to align their frameworks with the National People’s Power election manifesto. While an annex detailing finalized benchmarks was not publicly released, The Sunday Times acquired it via an RTI request to the Presidential Secretariat.
Within the Justice Ministry’s proposals, the commitment to “abolish pensions and special privileges given to retired presidents and their families” was marked as “accepted” for deletion. Similarly, a pledge to “safeguard the voting rights of persons migrating for jobs within and outside the country” has also been removed.
Interestingly, the action plan retains the commitment to “abolish the executive presidency and to appoint a president without executive powers by the parliament”.
Earlier reports indicated that a committee appointed by President Dissanayake identified constitutional obstacles to cutting presidential privileges. Articles 36(2) and 36(4) of the Constitution grant presidents salaries, allowances, and pensions determined by Parliament, with limitations on retrospective changes or reductions.
Colombo is poised to have a new Mayor as Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) municipal councilor Riza Sarook has reportedly secured the majority support needed for the post. Sources indicate that Sarook has already obtained the signed backing of 62 councilors, exceeding the 59 votes required to establish power in the Colombo Municipal Council.
A document containing the signatures of these 62 councilors has reportedly been prepared. However, it is noted that this number does not include the two members from the Janatha Balawegaya (JPB) and United National Party (UNP) councilor Tony Ramzi. The two JPB members have stated their neutrality, while Tony Ramzi had publicly announced his lack of support for Riza Sarook several days prior.
In the recent local government elections, the Janatha Jana Balawegaya secured 48 seats in the Colombo Municipal Council. At the same time, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya, the United National Party, and other opposition parties and independent groups collectively won 69 seats.
The mayoral election is scheduled for tomorrow (June 16th), and it is mentioned that an agreement has been reached to appoint Kithsiri Rajapakse of the United National Party, who has served the Colombo Municipal Council for the longest period, as the Deputy Mayor.
The National People’s Power (NPP) has secured the chairmanship of the Medawachchiya Pradeshiya Sabha, while the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) has been appointed to the position of vice-chairman.
This development follows the recent local government elections where the NPP emerged victorious in the Medawachchiya Pradeshiya Sabha but failed to secure a majority of seats.
In the election, the NPP won 10 seats, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) secured 6 seats, the Podujana Eksath Peramuna and Sarvajana Bala Pakshaya obtained 2 seats each, and the United National Party (UNP) secured 1 seat.
With no single party holding a clear majority, the support of a single decisive member was crucial for forming the Sabha’s administration. Ultimately, the chairman was elected through a secret ballot.
The inaugural session of the Pradeshiya Sabha presided over by Provincial Councils Commissioner Ruwan Wijesinghe, witnessed a tense atmosphere. In the subsequent vote, Dhanapala Wimalathunga of the NPP was elected as the chairman. Ranga Somadasa, representing the SLPP, was appointed as the vice-chairman.
This outcome highlights a trend observed in several local government bodies where no party secured an outright majority in the recent elections. The independent stance of Sarvajana Bala Pakshaya members in councils such as Panduwasnuwara, Minipe, Medawachchiya, Madagama, and Kobeigane has provided an opportunity for the JVP to gain chairmanship positions.
However, this turn of events has drawn criticism and concern from other opposition parties within these local councils.
The Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission has delivered a landmark verdict, stating that the detention of a youth named Mohamed Rushdie under the Prevention of Terrorism Act violated his fundamental rights.
Rushdie was arrested and detained by the Terrorism Investigation Division for allegedly pasting an anti-Israel sticker in a waste bin at his workplace.
The commission concluded that the arrest and detention infringed upon Rushdie’s rights to freedom of expression, religion, conscience, freedom from arbitrary arrest and detention, and freedom of movement. The commission has issued a special statement in this regard.
The Human Rights Commission has ordered the Inspector General of Police to promptly formulate guidelines that include criteria for establishing reasonable suspicion when conducting investigations into terrorism-related offenses, based on this incident. These recommendations, comprising nine fundamental points, must be implemented and a report submitted by July 15, 2025.
Mohamed Rushdie was arrested on March 22 following an incident involving the placement of a sticker in a waste bin at the entrance of a supermarket complex in Kollupitiya, protesting against the killings in Palestine by Israel. Subsequently, a detention order was obtained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act, and he was held by the Terrorism Investigation Division.
Media and civil organizations have protested the arrest, asserting it poses a grave threat to the right to freedom of expression.
Meanwhile, President Anura Kumara, during an election rally in the Eastern Province, had stated that a Muslim youth arrested for pasting an anti-war sticker and held for 90 days under a detention order signed by himself was innocent of any criminal offense. Addressing the Muslim community in Samanthurai regarding the detention order he signed, President Anura Kumara claimed to have “rectified Rushdie’s mistake.”
“That young man was self-motivated. We arrested him. We took him and examined everything he had,” the President stated, seemingly vouching for the police under his purview. “We showed that young man to his parents. The parents were thankful for saving their child from that destruction. Is this wrong? Is that wrong?” he emotionally questioned, gesturing with his hands.
However, Mohamed Naseem, Rushdie’s elder brother, refuted the President’s claims, stating, “That’s a complete lie. His mother and father never thanked the President at any point. Not the President, we haven’t even met anyone from the government, let alone thank them.”
Naseem vehemently questioned the President’s public statements, asking, “Why is the President telling such lies? Why would we thank the government or the police? Wouldn’t that imply that we accept that my brother was wrong? My brother did not do anything wrong. So why would we thank the President or the police for saving him?” He further inquired, “How can the President tell such public lies when we haven’t met any government official at any point?”
