After a dramatic reversal and intense political maneuvering, the Colombo Municipal Council’s 2026 budget survives by the narrowest of margins, exposing deep divisions and fragile alliances within the council.
The National People’s Power Party secured a crucial victory today as the Colombo Municipal Council passed its 2026 budget in a second vote, winning by a slim margin of two votes. The budget received 58 votes in favor and 56 votes against, marking a dramatic turnaround from the first vote held on the 22nd, where the same proposal was defeated.
During the earlier vote, the budget failed after receiving 57 votes in favor and 60 against, underscoring the uncertainty surrounding governance in the Colombo Municipal Council. The reversal highlights the intense negotiations and shifting political positions that followed the initial defeat.
Since the most recent local government election, the formation of power within the Colombo Municipal Council has remained complex and unstable. The council consists of 119 members, and no single political party managed to secure a clear majority.
With the majority threshold set at 60 seats, all major parties were compelled to rely on independent groups and smaller parties to push decisions through. As a result, the National People’s Power administration was ultimately formed with the backing of several other political groups, enabling it to secure passage of the budget on the second attempt.
