CMC Opposition councillors write to mayor:

Opposition should have Standing Committee majority

Group leaders of the UPFA, SLMA, DUA, Independent Group I and II have called on Group Leader of United National Party A J M Muzzamil to ensure majority representation in all Standing Committees be vested with the Opposition in keeping with the majority status it enjoys in the Colombo Municipal Council.

In a letter jointly addressed to group leaders of Democratic People’s Front and Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna Mano Ganeshan and Sunil Watagala they said:

We the undersigned group leaders of respective political parties and independent groups wish to place on record the following

a. As you are aware the United National Party even though the governing party of the Colombo Municipal Council does not possess a majority in the House and as such should be considered as a minority governing group.

b. As you are aware that under and in terms of S.26 (1) of the Municipal Council Ordinance at the first general meeting, the Council is obliged to elect a Standing Committee of Finance and not less than two other committees.

c. As a majority of Council members are from the Opposition, a true reflection of the mandate of the people should be represented in their election which would require majority representation in all Standing Committees to be vested with the Opposition.

In this setting we the undersigned group leaders of the respective political groups hereby request that out of six Standing Committee members for finance and in all other Standing Committees that the Opposition has the right to the election of four Councillors.

Please further note that on previous occasions the members of the Municipal Council have moved for 16 Standing Committees and that we would be moving for the election of the said Committees.