Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) General Secretary Tilvin Silva has warned opposition parties not to obstruct the formation of local government (LG) bodies in areas where the National People’s Power (NPP) has secured a clear majority, warning that any such moves will be met with equal resistance.
Addressing the media, Silva emphasized that the establishment of local councils is a reflection of the public mandate delivered at the recently held local government elections. “If the opposition obstructs the formation of councils where the NPP has won, we will have to obstruct them in return. This is the people’s will, and it should be respected,” he said.
Silva noted that the NPP has emerged victorious in a majority of councils, winning 267 outright and securing a clear path to establish control in 120 without contest. He added that in 32 local government bodies, equal numbers of members were elected from both the government and opposition camps, yet even in these cases, forming a council is possible through consensus.
In contrast, he pointed out that the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), despite securing 14 LG bodies, lacks the capacity to establish control independently in 13 of them, indicating a fragmented result that challenges the opposition’s ability to govern without alliances.
Silva further stated that negotiations are currently underway to form administrations in areas where the NPP does not have an immediate majority, including efforts in the Colombo Municipal Council, where the NPP-led government is just 11 members short of a majority.
“We are in talks with independent groups and others, and the existing divisions among opposition parties can work in our favour,” Silva said, hinting at potential realignments in key local bodies such as Colombo.
Leave a comment