Colombo’s Municipal Council descended into turmoil as Mayor Vraie Cally Balthazaar was accused of violating council procedures, forcing a tense adjournment. Opposition members slammed the last-minute delivery of the agenda, calling the move illegal and demanding accountability. Heated exchanges dominated the council floor as legality and protocol took center stage.
A heated confrontation broke out at the inaugural general meeting of the Colombo Municipal Council, leading Mayor Vraie Cally Balthazaar to adjourn the session for 10 minutes.
The tension stemmed from allegations by opposition members who claimed that proper legal procedures were ignored in the issuance of the meeting agenda. Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) Municipal Councilor Roy Bogahawatte strongly objected, stating that under the Municipal Council Ordinance, the agenda must be distributed at least four days prior to the meeting. Instead, members received the agenda just moments before the session began.
Bogahawatte publicly challenged both the Mayor and Colombo Municipal Commissioner Palitha Nanayakkara, declaring the act as unlawful. In response, the Mayor and Commissioner admitted the mistake and assured councilors that such errors would be avoided in the future.
However, the matter escalated when SJB Councilor Mahendra Silva emphasized that if standing committees were formed based on an improperly circulated agenda, the committees themselves would be illegitimate. He proposed that the entire meeting be adjourned and held on another day with proper procedures in place.
Deputy Mayor Hemantha Kumara suggested a short recess of 10 to 15 minutes instead. Following this, Mayor Vraie Cally Balthazaar announced the meeting would be adjourned for 10 minutes and temporarily exited the chamber.
The episode has sparked fresh questions about transparency and legal compliance within Sri Lanka’s largest municipal authority.
