Minister Bimal Rathnayake has warned that the central government will withhold funding from any council that comes to power through political backroom deals or manipulation.
Rathnayake made it clear that only local government authorities with a clear and legitimate public mandate will receive financial support from the central government.
“The government will not give money to local government institutions that have formed power by playing games. We’re not crazy to spend public money on a council controlled by a group of fraudsters,” he said.
According to the Minister, government allocations to such councils will be strictly limited to essential expenses, such as staff salaries.
“No additional funds will be approved for councils formed under questionable circumstances,” he affirmed.
Minister Rathnayake also pointed out that forming opportunistic coalitions to seize control of councils without a proper mandate is a betrayal of democratic principles.
“The people have not given a mandate for small groups to team up and form control. That kind of political manipulation is a blow to democracy,” he claimed.
He also went so far as to predict the outcome of a high-profile contest for the Colombo Municipal Council.
“This time, the mayor of the Colombo Municipal Council will be Mrs. Vrai Cally Balthasar. Write it down,” he added.
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