Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) SJB member Riza Zarook cited the absence of some councillors as the reason for the ruling party, NPP, being able to pass the local council’s budget today.
The second reading of the CMC’s budget was passed with 58 councillors voting in favour and 56 councillors voting against.
Speaking to the media, SJB councillor Riza Zarook said that several of the opposition councillors had not turned up today due to suspicious reasons.
“One councillor was detained at the Narahenpita Police for an inquiry today. Two of our councillors are missing and their phones are still inactive. One councillor’s wife suffered a heart attack and he had to leave ahead of the vote. One councillor voted in favour of the ruling party. We did not lose because of lacking a majority, but because some of our councillors were absent,” Riza Zarook told the media. (Newswire)
“One councillor was detained at the Narahenpita Police for an inquiry today. Two of our councillors are missing and their phones are still inactive. One councillor’s wife suffered a heart attack and he had to leave ahead of the vote. One councillor voted in favour of the ruling… pic.twitter.com/zzbNlyuPJK
— NewsWire 🇱🇰 (@NewsWireLK) December 31, 2025