With just ten days to go before the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) is set to elect its new mayor and deputy mayor, the National People’s Power (NPP) and the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) are locked in a struggle to secure the majority support needed to form an administration.
Of the 117 elected members of the CMC, at least 59 are required to take control of the council. Currently, the NPP holds 48 seats, while the SJB commands 29. Neither party has managed to consolidate the numbers needed to lead the council, prompting intense negotiations with smaller parties and independent members.
The remaining seats are distributed among the United National Party (UNP) with 13 members, the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) with five, Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) with four, and two each from the New People’s Alliance (NPA) and Sarvajana Balaya.
Additionally, one seat each is held by the National Freedom Front (NFF), United Republican Front (URF), Democratic National Alliance (DNA), and five independent groups.
Speaking to Pulseline, a senior SJB MP confirmed that discussions are ongoing with several parties and independents to get their support to form the majority.
Meanwhile, the NPP is engaged in parallel negotiations, with party leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake personally involved in discussions aimed at forging a working majority.
In a development that may shift the balance, the National Freedom Front (NFF), led by Wimal Weerawansa, has pledged conditional support to the SJB.
NFF national organiser Jayantha Samaraweera said they have ruled out backing the NPP, citing ideological differences.
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