The National People’s Power has been accused of irregular conduct in the passage of the Horana Urban Council budget, with an opposition lawmaker alleging that the council clock was deliberately adjusted to rush through the vote.
Opposition MP Ajith P. Perera said the budget of the Horana Urban Council was passed in a “fraudulent and disgraceful manner” on Tuesday, despite the ruling party lacking a majority.
Perera alleged that the clock inside the council chamber had been advanced by five minutes, allowing the budget to be declared unanimously approved at 9:55 a.m., even though the council meeting was officially scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m.
He said opposition councillors arrived at the chamber at the stipulated time of 10:00 a.m., only to find that the budget had already been approved solely with votes from NPP councillors and that members of the ruling group had left the chamber.
According to the approved agenda, the meeting was required to begin with religious observances, a remembrance of deceased councillors, and the confirmation of minutes from the previous special council meeting before proceeding to the second reading of the budget.
However, Perera alleged that none of these procedures were followed and that the budget was passed within approximately three minutes, without observing even the customary religious observances.
He further accused the council secretary of facilitating the process, describing it as an abuse of procedure and authority.
“This may be a temporary political fix, but such tactics will not hold in the long run,” Perera said, questioning whether similar methods would be attempted at the Colombo Municipal Council.
The NPP has not yet responded to the allegations. (Newswire)