Colombo Mayor Vraîe Cally Balthazaar says the city remains committed to protecting its trees, even as urban development projects continue to reshape the capital.

She revealed that two institutions, Fort Railway Station and the University of Visual and Performing Arts, recently sought assistance from the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) when renovation work threatened trees on their premises.

“Because the trees could still be moved, we were able to root ball them and give them new homes, one at Flower Road, and the others at Viharamahadevi Park,” the Mayor said.

Balthazaar emphasized that the CMC will always work with organisations and residents to safeguard Colombo’s greenery. 

However, she noted a contrasting case where a company cut down a mature tree on Galle Road, which had stood for many years. “They will be charged for destroying public property,” she confirmed.

The Mayor also urged businesses to stop requesting tree removals simply because they obstruct signage or branding. “These trees are just as much a part of Colombo as your businesses,” she remarked.

Reflecting on her own favourites, Balthazaar said she especially admires flamboyant and ehela trees, and encouraged citizens to appreciate the city’s natural heritage. (Newswire)

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A three‑day national dengue mosquito eradication programme commenced today (08) across Sri Lanka, with the official launch held at the Colombo Municipal Council premises. 

The initiative, announced by the Ministry of Health and Media, aims to curb the rising spread of dengue by targeting high‑risk areas islandwide.

The opening ceremony was led by Colombo Mayor Vraie Cally Balthazaar, Colombo Municipal Council Chief Medical Officer Dr. K. Sriprathapan, and Acting Director of the National Dengue Control Unit Dr. Kapila Kannangara. 

Addressing the gathering, Mayor Balthazaar emphasized the importance of public participation in controlling dengue, noting the programme’s national significance and the support extended by the Tri‑Forces, Police, state institutions, and health sector staff.

Dr. Kannangara revealed that approximately 37,000 dengue patients have been reported so far this year, with nearly 2,000 cases within the Colombo Municipal limits. He stressed the urgency of controlling the situation, pointing out that mosquito breeding sites are frequently found in schools, government institutions, and religious premises.

The campaign, running until June 10, will cover 14 districts and 72 Medical Officer of Health divisions. Activities include inspections of homes, schools, religious sites, construction sites, and abandoned lands, issuing red notices and legal action against offenders, and fogging in high‑risk zones. Daily progress reviews will be conducted by the Ministry’s Disaster Management Unit, with updates shared with the media.

Health officials noted that dengue cases have risen by about 10,000 compared to last year, with over 50% reported from the Western Province. High‑risk districts such as Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara, Galle, Ratnapura, and Kandy will receive continuous eradication efforts.

Public Health Inspectors, Medical Officers, entomology officers, health educators, and community physicians are among those participating in the nationwide drive, which also includes public awareness programmes. (Newswire)

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The Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) has introduced a comprehensive School Canteen Food Environment Policy aimed at promoting healthy eating habits among schoolchildren and creating safer, healthier food environments in schools across the CMC area. 

The initiative forms part of the CMC’s broader public health efforts and seeks to improve the nutritional quality and safety of foods and beverages available in school canteens. It also aims to reduce children’s exposure to foods high in fat, sugar and salt while supporting efforts to address the growing triple burden of malnutrition among school-aged children. 

According to the policy document, the regulations will apply to all government, semi-government, private and religious schools located within the administrative limits of the CMC. The policy will cover all school canteens and food outlets operating within school premises where food and beverages are prepared, sold, distributed or advertised. 

The CMC noted that schoolchildren in Colombo are increasingly affected by undernutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, overweight and obesity. Health authorities said recent school medical inspections have shown a rising trend in childhood overweight and obesity, identifying it as a major public health concern linked to the early onset of non-communicable diseases. 

The policy also highlights concerns over poor dietary habits and increased consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and foods high in sugar, which have contributed to a growing prevalence of dental caries among children. Poor oral health, authorities note, can negatively affect children’s nutritional status, school attendance and academic performance. 

Under the proposed guidelines, school canteens will be encouraged to provide safe, nutritious and affordable foods while limiting items high in sugar, salt and unhealthy fats. Processed meats, deep-fried foods, packaged snacks, chocolates, sugary drinks, carbonated beverages, energy drinks and several other food items have been listed among products prohibited for sale in school canteens. 

The policy instead promotes healthier alternatives, including rice-based meals, fruits, vegetables, pulses, fish, eggs, fresh milk products and healthier snack options. It also proposes a grading and monitoring system for school canteens to ensure compliance and maintain standards. 

The CMC stated that the successful implementation of the policy would require close collaboration between school authorities, health officials, parents, canteen operators and other stakeholders.

Health officials believe the policy could play a key role in encouraging healthier food choices among children and creating a supportive school food environment for future generations. (Newswire)

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Eight Mee trees were planted along Sangaraja Mawatha in Colombo 10 by the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC), at 9:01 am on Thursday, the auspicious time for tree planting during the Sinhala and Tamil New Year.

Mayor Vraîe Cally Balthazaar, who led the initiative, reaffirmed the CMC’s commitment to expanding urban greenery despite its Land and Environment Department often being referred to as the “tree cutting unit.”

“With nearly 100 trees planted this last year, we keep growing and expanding our tree coverage. I also had the honour of launching our herb garden project in schools in the city last year, and we’ve also been committed to creating small urban forest patches,” Mayor Vraîe Cally Balthazaar noted, highlighting the CMC’s parallel projects.

“We care for our trees as much as we do our people,” she said, underscoring the Council’s vision of a greener, healthier Colombo. (Newswire)

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The Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) has decided to temporarily suspend the collection of parking fees for vehicles entering Colombo City. 

Addressing the media, CMC officials stated that the decision will be implemented with immediate effect until further notice. 

They further stated that the decision was taken in view of the ongoing fuel supply issue in the country, resulting from the conflict in the Middle East region. 

The CMC’s Financial Committee has agreed to this decision, they said. 

“Parking fees are collected from those entering and parking within Colombo City. However, we have received reports of the public facing difficulties due to the current global crisis. The Financial Committee has agreed to the temporary suspension of the collection of parking fees,” they added. (Newswire) 

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The Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) has officially launched ‘Sith Suwa Purawara’, an initiative aimed at enhancing emotional well-being and expanding access to counselling and support services for residents of Colombo.

According to a CMC statement, ‘Sith Suwa Purawara’ was launched last week (13), and is being implemented in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Police, Sri Lanka Foundation Institute, and Women In Need (WIN).

This multi-stakeholder partnership reflects a shared commitment to strengthening community-based support systems and addressing the growing need for emotional and psychological care within the city.

The initiative will be carried out in three phases, focusing on improving access to counselling services, raising awareness on emotional wellbeing, and providing structured support for individuals and families in need.

“This initiative represents a significant step towards building a healthier, more supportive Colombo. Through this partnership, we aim to create meaningful impact by ensuring that individuals and families have access to the care and guidance they need,” the Colombo Mayor, Vraîe Cally Balthazaar, stated.

She further stated that ‘Sith Suwa Purawara’ is expected to serve as a pilot programme, with the potential to be replicated in other parts of the country in the future. (Newswire)

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Sohara Buhari, a member of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) in the Colombo Municipal Council, has lost her council seat following disciplinary action taken by the party. 

The action was initiated after she voted in favour of the National People’s Power (NNP) during the local council’s budget vote, defying party instructions. 

SLMC General Secretary, President’s Counsel and MP Nizam Kariapper imposed disciplinary measures against her, and as a result, the Election Commissioner has confirmed her removal. 

The decision has also been published in the Government Gazette. (Newswire)

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The Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) has announced a major relief measure for residents, deciding to abolish all cremation and burial fees within its municipal limits.

Colombo Mayor Vraîe Cally Balthazaar told Newswire that a decision was taken to completely abolish cremation and burial fees charged from residents within the Colombo Municipal limits during a meeting of the local council held on Tuesday (10 Feb).

According to members’ views, the proposal was presented by the Colombo Mayor and unanimously approved during the discussion.

As a result, residents receiving services from the Colombo Municipal Council will now be exempt from paying fees for cremations and burials at the Borella, Jawatta, Madampitiya, and Kirulapone cemeteries, in the sections administered by the Council.

Previously, a fee of Rs. 10,000 had been charged, which opposition and government members noted had caused severe hardship to low‑income families. (Newswire)

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The Opposition has secured a majority of members in the key Finance Standing Committee of the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC), which oversees the council’s financial affairs.

During the local council’s proceedings yesterday, the opposition also secured a majority in most standing committees of the CMC.

According to reports, opposition CMC members Roy Bogahawatta, Anura Sujeewa, Taranga Athureliya, Dayakantha Perera and Arshad Nizamdeen have been elected to the Finance Committee. 

Mayor Vraie Cally Balthazar and Deputy Mayor Hemantha Weerakoon serve as ex officio members of the Finance Committee.

Commenting on the feat, CMC opposition member Riza Zarook said the joint opposition had managed to appoint members from their faction to the finance standing committee. 

“The Mayor will act as the executive, while the opposition members will function as the legislature of the Finance Standing Committee,” he added, speaking to the media. (Newswire)

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The Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) has launched ‘CMC Apparel’, a new workspace designed to support young women entering employment after completing the year-long NVQ course, helping them on their path toward economic stability.

According to a statement by CMC Mayor Vraîe Cally Balthazaar, at the launch on Thursday (08 Jan), students from both current and past batches demonstrated their skills in pattern making, pattern grading, and design, showcasing the talent and dedication fostered through the programme.

“In the past, members of the council have donated sewing machines to women across the city. Unfortunately, many of these machines were underutilized and, in some cases, sold after a few years. With CMC Apparel, we wanted to do things differently, to create a sustainable system that ensures taxpayers’ money truly benefits those who need support the most, while empowering women with real opportunities, skills, and income,” she said. 

Mayor Vraîe Cally Balthazaar further noted that this marks only the beginning of the initiative, with further plans ahead to strengthen the programme and expand its impact. (Newswire)

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The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) has suspended the party membership of Colombo Municipal Councillor Shane Daniel Ram with immediate effect. 

Issuing a statement, the SJB said that the decision follows the vote on the second reading of the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) budget.

According to the SJB, the suspension was carried out as the councillor had failed to adhere to the decisions of the SJB Management Committee and the Party Executive Committee during the CMC’s budget vote. 

The second reading of the CMC budget was passed today with 58 votes in favour and 56 votes against. (Newswire)

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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

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The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) has suspended the party membership of Colombo Municipal Councillor Zohara Buhary with immediate effect, for voting in favour of the Council’s budget.

In a letter issued by SLMC Secretary Nizam Kariapper, it was noted that Buhary voted in favour of the Colombo Municipal Council Budget Proposal despite the Party Leader, Rauff Hakeem, having personally instructed members of the Opposition to oppose it. 

The SLMC described her conduct as a “gross violation of party discipline.”

The letter further directs Buhary to submit an affidavit within one week explaining why disciplinary action, including termination of her membership, should not be taken. 

The SLMC warned that failure to comply would result in further disciplinary measures without notice. (Newswire)

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The Colombo Municipal Council’s 2026 budget has been passed after being presented for the second time.

The CMC’s 2026 budget was passed today with 58 votes in favour and 56 voting against. 

Previously, the ruling National People’s Power (NPP) lost the first budget vote at the Colombo Municipal Council on 22 December 2025.  

The council’s budget was defeated after the joint opposition voted against it. 60 councillors voted against the budget while 57 supported it. 

However, the second reading of the budget presented today has been passed. (Newswire)

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President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has appointed a Commission of Inquiry to probe alleged irregularities at the Colombo Municipal Council between 2010 and 2025, including corruption, abuse of power and misappropriation. 

A Gazette notification, issued by the President on 30 December 2025, states that several complaints have been received regarding alleged acts of corruption and fraud, due to which the state has suffered significant losses of property and revenue, and the Colombo Municipal Council has failed to achieve its expected development goals. 

The Gazette states that, therefore, it is necessary to investigate and examine these complaints, allegations, and information to determine their truth, identify those responsible, and recommend measures to prevent such acts in the future for the benefit of the nation.

Accordingly, a Commission of Inquiry has been appointed to investigate, examine, and report on these alleged wrongdoings and to recommend necessary actions.

The appointments made to the Commission of Inquiry are as follows;

• Attorney‑at‑Law Piyasena Ranasinghe – Former Supreme Court Judge
• E.R.M.S.H. Ekanayake – Senior Grade I Officer of the Sri Lanka Audit Service
• D.S. Wickramasinghe – Former Senior Police Officer

Furthermore, Attorney‑at‑Law Piyasena Ranasinghe, Former Supreme Court Judge, is appointed as Chairman of the Commission.

The Commission is directed to submit an interim report within three months from the date of this warrant, further interim reports monthly thereafter, and a final report with the findings and recommendations within six months. (Newswire)

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Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Mujibur Rahman says that while the National People’s Power (NPP) once defeated his party through a secret vote, today they have openly been defeated by voting down the Colombo Municipal Council budget.

He further noted that this outcome has occurred within just six months, a relatively short period of time.

MP Rahman went on to add that the President must understand that votes cannot be secured simply by offering biryani at night to councillors.

“You came into power to end the political practice of offering privileges and biriyani to MPs and councillors. But after coming into power, you have also continued with the same practice. Now, we have sent a message to the government proving that they do not hold power in the CMC. From now on, the CMC will be controlled by the joint opposition,” he added. 

MP Mujibur Rahman made the remarks while speaking to the media after the Colombo Municipal Council budget was defeated yesterday. (Newswire)

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The defeat of the Colombo Municipal Council’s budget does not threaten the survival of the ruling administration for at least two years under Sri Lanka’s local government law, electoral reform analyst Manjula Gajanayake said following the vote.

Gajanayake, executive director of the Institute for Democratic Reforms and Electoral Studies, said elected heads of local authorities are legally protected from removal for a minimum of two years, regardless of budget defeats.

“There is no legal mechanism to dissolve a municipal council or remove its leadership within the first two years simply because a budget is defeated,” he said, stressing that local councils operate under a different framework from Parliament.

The ruling National People’s Power (NPP) lost the budget vote at the Colombo Municipal Council on Dec. 22 after a joint opposition bloc voted against the financial estimates.

Under the Local Authorities (Special Provisions) Act No. 21 of 2012, a council whose budget is defeated is allowed to re-present the budget within two weeks, with or without amendments. If the revised budget is also rejected, the mayor is legally empowered to proceed with the original financial estimates using executive authority.

Gajanayake said this legal structure guarantees continuity of governance for a full two-year period, preventing political manoeuvring from triggering abrupt changes in control.

“Even repeated budget defeats do not remove the administration during this two-year window,” he said. “The law was specifically amended to prevent councils from being toppled through short-term political bargaining.”

He added that an elected mayor or chairperson can only be removed through resignation, death, expulsion following a formal inquiry into misconduct initiated through the governor, or party disciplinary action — not through budget votes in first two years.

While the budget defeat has no immediate administrative or legal impact, Gajanayake said it is politically significant and could weaken the ruling party’s ability to govern effectively within the council.

“The consequence is political pressure, not institutional collapse,” he said. (Newswire)

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Colombo Mayor Vraîe Cally Balthazaar said the Colombo Municipal Council budget was to decide the future of Colombo city and not the council.

Vraîe Cally Balthazaar said after establishing control of the local council, the NPP administration cordially worked with all members, irrespective of their parties.

“You didn’t defeat the NPP’s budget, you defeated your conscience and the budget of conscience,” she told CMC councillors, after the ruling National People’s Power (NPP) lost the budget vote at the Colombo Municipal Council.

Vraîe Cally Balthazaar urged those who voted against the budget to think about what they had done to the expectations of the people of Colombo. 

“Evil people doing bad things is normal. But good people banding together when something bad occurs is even scarier,” she added. 

The Colombo Mayor made the comments after the ruling NPP lost the budget vote at the Colombo Municipal Council yesterday, after the joint opposition voted against it. 60 councillors voted against the budget while 57 supported it. (Newswire)

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The Mayor of Colombo, Vraîe Cally Balthazaar, says the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) has extended its relief work to Kolonnawa.

Vraîe Cally Balthazaar said that as the areas most affected by Ditwah in Colombo city are nearing normalcy, the CMC team continues working in Kolonnawa too.

“The devastation in our neighbouring city is vast, affecting 42 of the 46 GN divisions. Today is Day 5 for us. Our teams, machinery, our council members, everyone has been doing their part to help in the clean-up operation,” she said in a statement.

Vraîe Cally Balthazaar further said that it is likely that the CMC will be supporting them for many more weeks to come, along with the other local government councils from the Colombo district.

“This is a massive collective effort. House by house, street by street, ward by ward, we will rebuild,” she added. (Newswire)

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The Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) has announced the suspension of parking fees within the city limits to assist people affected by Cyclone Ditwah. 

According to the CMC, on the instruction of the Mayor, a decision has been taken not to collect parking fees from 06.00 pm today (02) until midnight on December 05.

The move comes as a measure to help those displaced within the city, who have sought assistance from the CMC. (Newswire)

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