Defeated Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) mayoral candidate Riza Zarook alleged that the Commissioner of the Department of Local Government of the Western Province acted arbitrarily during the vote to elect a Mayor for Colombo this morning.
Zarook claimed that Commissioner Sarangika Jayasundara acted unilaterally, giving the ruling party an advantage by opting for a secret ballot.
“With the ruling party’s influence, it was clear they had planned to opt for a secret ballot. Despite our objections, the Commissioner made a statement at the outset that the vote could be conducted either by secret or open ballot,” Zarook said.
“That method of voting too should be decided by a majority of councillors. However, the Commissioner declared in an authoritarian manner that this decision would also be made through a secret ballot. As a result, we were compelled to proceed with the secret ballot,” he said.
He claimed that concerns had arisen within his camp the moment that there was a mention of a secret ballot, as the National People’s Power had deliberated on the matter for many days at their party headquarters in Pelawatte.
Zarook however congratulated the newly elected Mayor Vraie Cally Balthazaar stating that programs that would be favourable for the city would receive their support. “We will be watchful of the Mayor’s conduct in future,” he added. (Newswire)
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