Minister Bimal Ratnayake has issued a stark warning to local government bodies, declaring that the central government will not release funds to any council that comes into power through backroom deals or political manipulation.
Speaking to the media following a ceremony, Ratnayake stressed that only councils with legitimate mandates would be supported. “The government will not give money to local government institutions that have formed power by playing games,” he said. “We’re not crazy to spend public money on a council controlled by a group of fraudsters.”
He further clarified that government funds will be strictly limited to paying the salaries of local government employees. Any additional expenditure for councils formed under questionable circumstances would be blocked.
The minister argued that the people’s mandate must be respected and denounced the practice of forming coalitions purely to seize power. “The people have not given a mandate for small groups to team up and form control. That kind of political manipulation is a blow to democracy,” he warned.
In a bold statement, Ratnayake also predicted the outcome of a key municipal contest. “This time, the mayor of the Colombo Municipal Council will be Mrs. Vrai Balthasar,” he declared. “Write it down.”
His comments have added fuel to ongoing debates about coalition-building and political legitimacy at the local level, particularly in the aftermath of tightly contested local government elections.
What legal right he has to say this. He does not control public money.