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

The post CMC Budget Vote : Opposition says 2 councillors missing appeared first on Newswire.

Defeated Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) mayoral candidate Riza Zarook alleged that the Commissioner of the Department of Local Government of the Western Province acted arbitrarily during the vote to elect a Mayor for Colombo this morning.

Zarook claimed that Commissioner Sarangika Jayasundara acted unilaterally, giving the ruling party an advantage by opting for a secret ballot.

“With the ruling party’s influence, it was clear they had planned to opt for a secret ballot. Despite our objections, the Commissioner made a statement at the outset that the vote could be conducted either by secret or open ballot,” Zarook said.

“That method of voting too should be decided by a majority of councillors. However, the Commissioner declared in an authoritarian manner that this decision would also be made through a secret ballot. As a result, we were compelled to proceed with the secret ballot,” he said.

He claimed that concerns had arisen within his camp the moment that there was a mention of a secret ballot, as the National People’s Power had deliberated on the matter for many days at their party headquarters in Pelawatte.

Zarook however congratulated the newly elected Mayor Vraie Cally Balthazaar stating that programs that would be favourable for the city would receive their support. “We will be watchful of the Mayor’s conduct in future,” he added. (Newswire)

The post SJB’s Riza Zarook alleges bias in Colombo mayoral vote appeared first on Newswire.