The election to appoint the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Anamaduwa Pradeshiya Sabha was held yesterday (06 Jan), where both positions were won by the NPP.
According to state newspaper Dinamina, Aloka Bandara, representing the NPP, secured the Chairman’s post with a majority of four votes.
This victory was achieved during a council session convened by North Western Provincial Commissioner Sanjeewani Herath.
Following last year’s local government elections, attempts were twice made by the Provincial Commissioner and officials to hold a vote to appoint a Chairman for the Anamaduwa Pradeshiya Sabha. However, the opposition, including the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), boycotted the sessions in protest against a secret ballot, resulting in a lack of quorum and postponement.
As the two opportunities given to the Provincial Commissioner had lapsed, the matter was referred to the Election Commission for the Attorney General’s advice. Based on that guidance, the Election Commission empowered the North Western Provincial Commissioner to reconvene the council yesterday.
Accordingly, the Commissioner arrived to conduct the vote and called for another election to appoint the Chairman. When asked whether the vote should be open or secret, two opinions emerged: the NPP demanded a secret ballot, while the opposition requested an open vote.
In the subsequent secret ballot, of the 31 councillors, 17 voted for a secret ballot and 15 for an open ballot. Thus, the contest for Chairman was between Aloka Bandara of the NPP and Anushka Priyashantha of the SJB representing the opposition.
Aloka Bandara of the NPP won the Chairman’s post with 18 votes, while Anushka Priyashantha of the opposition received 13 votes.
In the local government elections, the NPP had secured 14 out of 17 seats in the Anamaduwa division, losing three. However, during the appointment of proportional representation seats, the opposition, including the SJB, gained 17 seats. (Newswire)