In a dramatic turn of events following the 2025 Local Government Elections, the race to appoint the next Mayor of Colombo has intensified after the National People’s Power (NPP) failed to secure an outright majority in the Colombo Municipal Council, despite emerging as the single largest party.
The Colombo Municipal Council, considered the most prestigious local body in the country, has 117 seats. The NPP won 48 of those, falling short of the 50% mark needed to claim control and nominate its own Mayor and Deputy Mayor without contest.
Here’s how the numbers stacked up:
- NPP: 48 seats
- Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB): 29 seats
- United National Party (UNP): 13 seats
- Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP): 5 seats
- Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC): 4 seats
- Independent Group 03: 3 seats
- Sarva Jana Balaya: 2 seats
- Independent Groups 04 & 05: 2 seats each
- Other parties and independents (NFF, DNA, NPF, URF, Groups 01 & 02): 2 seats each
With no single party or group crossing the critical 50% threshold, the process now moves to a special vote. The Local Government Commissioner will be required to convene the first council meeting, during which members will nominate candidates for Mayor and Deputy Mayor. A vote will follow one that could go into multiple rounds if no candidate secures an outright majority on the first ballot.
Political observers note that the opposition could still take control of the council if they manage to rally behind a single candidate. With 48 seats, the NPP leads numerically, but SJB parliamentarian Mujibur Rahman revealed that his party is actively negotiating with other factions, including the UNP to build a post-election alliance that could surpass the 60-seat majority mark needed to elect a Mayor.
“We are working to unite the opposition groups. The NPP only has 48 seats that’s not enough to form a majority. We’re already in talks, and the UNP has agreed to support us,” Mujibur said.
If the opposition bloc succeeds in nominating a strong candidate and stays united, it could potentially override the NPP’s numerical advantage and seize control of Colombo’s key urban body. However, if multiple nominations are submitted, voting will continue until one candidate secures 50% or more of the council’s vote.
With alliances shifting and power hanging in the balance, Colombo is now bracing for a fierce political battle. The fight for the Mayor’s seat is no longer about who won the most votes, it’s about who can build the strongest coalition.
