By Marlon Dale Ferreira
In a moment charged with promise and symbolic power, Vraie Cally Balthazaar of the National People’s Power (NPP) has been appointed as the new Mayor of Colombo, triumphing through a tightly contested secret ballot vote that has reshaped the capital’s political narrative.
She had already made waves in 2024, securing over 44,000 votes at the last General Election, yet narrowly missed entering Parliament. That near-miss echoed the legacy of the late Peter Keuneman, the last member of the Burgher community to serve as a Member of Parliament. Many felt she had been unjustly denied a voice in national politics. But perhaps her true calling was never the legislature. Perhaps she was always meant to lead from the ground up, right here, at the helm of Colombo, as its Mayoress.
The secret ballot process held on today within the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC), was necessitated by the lack of a clear majority in the local government elections. With 117 elected members, the Council was summoned to cast their votes in a confidential process overseen by the Local Government Commissioner, ensuring transparency and fairness. In this silent but decisive vote, Vraie Balthazaar emerged victorious, defying convention and long-standing elitist dominance over the Colombo mayoralty.
Mr. Hemantha Kumara of the ruling party was elected unopposed as Deputy Mayor.
This election is more than a political victory, it is a cultural and social shift. The Colombo mayoral post, historically held by a member of the urban elite, is now in the hands of a woman from a leftist party, someone who has spent years working quietly and tirelessly for the underprivileged, long before her foray into politics. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, she was on the ground, organizing support for those in need.
In one of her earlier speeches prior to being appointed as Mayor, Vraie struck a note of unity and purpose:
“All 117 members of the Colombo Municipal Council will work together as one team. We are not here to be divided by politics. We are here to serve the people, together.”
Her words reflect her ethos, collaborative, grounded, and people-first. And if her past is any indication, she is bound to bring that same energy to this role.
While her initial dream of serving in Parliament slipped away, she never stopped working. She stayed close to the people, advocated for those without a voice, and ultimately found herself where she could make the most impact. She may not have entered the House of Parliament, but she has walked into the hearts of a city that desperately needs change.
And who knows, maybe perhaps that was always part of God’s divine plan.
Because as the saying now goes, with a smile and a knowing wink: “If at first you don’t succeed, Vraie, Vraie, and Vraie again!”
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