CMC budget clears narrowly as SLMC suspends councillor

Thursday, 1 January 2026 00:19 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Sri Lanka’s local government councils saw contrasting developments yesterday, with the Colombo Municipal Council approving its budget by a slim margin, while unrest at the Galle Municipal Council led to the arrest of five opposition councillors.

The CMC budget was passed with 58 votes in favour and 56 against, while two members abstained. Proceedings were briefly adjourned for ten minutes earlier in the day following objections from councillors over time allocated for speeches, after which Mayor Vraie Cally Balthazaar directed that the session resume and the vote proceed.

In the aftermath of the vote, the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress announced the immediate suspension of CMC member Zohara Buhary for voting in favour of the budget. SLMC Secretary Nizam Kariapper, in a letter to Buhary, said the decision was taken on the instructions of party leader Rauff Hakeem, noting that the party had formally decided to oppose the budget and that voting otherwise constituted a serious breach of party discipline.

In Galle, police said five opposition councillors were arrested following unrest that disrupted a municipal council session on 30 December. The suspects, including a female councillor, were taken into custody after statements were recorded over allegations that they obstructed the duties of the council Secretary and other officials.

Those arrested represent the United National Party, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya and the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna, and are due to be produced before the Galle Magistrate’s Court today.