The ruling National People’s Power (NPP) has lost the budget vote at the Colombo Municipal Council, dealing a political setback to the party despite it continuing to control the council.
Although the NPP did not secure an outright majority at the local government election, it was able to form the administration of the Colombo Municipal Council with the support of smaller groups.
However, the council’s budget was defeated after the joint opposition voted against it. 60 councillors voted against the budget while 57 supported it.
Under Sri Lanka’s local government law, the defeat of a budget does not automatically dissolve a municipal council or remove the administration, unlike in Parliament. As a result, there is no immediate administrative impact, and the NPP can continue to run the council.
Nevertheless, the budget defeat is considered politically significant, as it signals weakened support within the council and could make governance and the passage of key proposals more challenging in the period ahead. (Newswire)