Tensions erupted at the Mawathagama Pradeshiya Sabha as a surprise secret ballot request by the ruling party halted the chairman election. With the opposition walking out in protest, democracy itself is now under scrutiny. Is this a backdoor power grab or procedural sabotage? The fallout could echo far beyond local politics.
The Mawathagama Pradeshiya Sabha turned into a political battleground on June 17 as the meeting to elect a new chairman collapsed into controversy. The government party’s sudden demand for a secret ballot ignited tensions, prompting opposition members to walk out in protest, ultimately postponing the election due to lack of quorum.
The opposition accuses the government of launching a deliberate power grab, exploiting secrecy to manipulate votes in a council where they hold the numerical majority following the last local government elections.
Despite the opposition having secured more council members than the ruling party, government representatives insisted on a secret ballot an unusual request that immediately raised red flags.
Opposition councillors claim this is a coordinated plot to overturn the democratic verdict of the people by allowing hidden crossovers or threats to influence the vote. “What’s happening here is a calculated attempt to seize power through undemocratic backroom tactics,” said one angry councillor. “If we let this slide, it won’t stop at Mawathagama.”
The term “Sarangika Theriya” (Sagarika theory) now trending on social media has become a symbolic catchphrase for the chaos and scandal surrounding these secret-ballot demands, particularly when they’re made without legal or procedural justification.
The walkout by the opposition meant that quorum could not be maintained. With 60% of seats vacant, authorities had no choice but to suspend the proceedings indefinitely. The speaker election, which was supposed to resolve the council’s leadership, has now been postponed with no new date announced.
Meanwhile, political analysts warn this isn’t an isolated event. Similar strategies have reportedly emerged in other local councils across Sri Lanka, where the opposition has won majority control but the ruling party is allegedly using procedural loopholes to retain influence.
Civil society organizations and pro-democracy advocates have called for the Election Commission and the Ministry of Local Government to issue clear, enforceable rules to prevent future manipulation through last-minute changes to balloting methods.
The opposition party vows to fight back, claiming that this secret ballot strategy is the beginning of a wider attempt to undermine local democracy ahead of upcoming national polls.
