The Hon. Sunil Watagala, Attorney-at-Law

¶ 01 I reflected and realized the reason. Something happened yesterday. Because of that incident, they felt they could not face the country and walked out of this Chamber. Otherwise, is the Speaker changing tomorrow? They will come to the Chamber tomorrow, won’t they? Do they not come every day? I told them, “At least come for the next short sitting. You have eaten at the canteen and are gathered there. Now finish your meal and come back to the Chamber.” I said, “No need to get overly upset when the Speaker gets angry. Two hours is fine. Come now.” They said, “No, Hon. Minister, we will come tomorrow.” Only today are they angry with the Speaker. There is nothing else to it. Hon. Mujibur Rahuman is not in the Province today. The very Member who issued the challenge, Hon. Mujibur Rahuman, is not in the Province. After losing the vote to elect the Mayor of Colombo, the Leader of the Opposition held a press conference. I came today to answer that press conference held after losing.

¶ 02 Please explain this law to Hon. Sajith Premadasa and to Hon. Mujibur Rahuman: the Provincial Councils Law. Before going to be defeated before the Provincial Commissioner, they said the law was fine; everything was fine until defeat. After losing, they say, “There was a serious issue; there was a flaw in the secret ballot procedure.” At the press conference, what did they say? That the guidelines were not followed. But it was their own member who requested a secret ballot. The Council unanimously agreed to it after saying “we are willing.” Then, can legal action be taken against that? There was unanimity of the Council—for what? For a secret ballot. Who requested it? One of their own councillors. Once their own councillor agreed, the ballot—specifically the secret ballot—was taken unanimously. Earlier, they claimed there was a list of 62; “accept it now.” Our members present said, “Fine; if so, let 62 come now and sign.” They did not. Then the proper inquiry was conducted by the Provincial Commissioner, and after that, they attacked her saying she had not done the job correctly. Before losing they said one thing; after losing, they said another.

¶ 03 What is this method? After that, certain social media channels, taking their cue from them, started attacking the Commissioner in various ways. We say that she, as a public officer, held her head high and acted according to the statute. We must thank her for that. Our government of the National People’s Power will protect that public service. That is our way.

¶ 04 Now they try to create a myth that the public service is not functioning because officials are afraid. We will steadfastly protect a public service that decides fearlessly and speaks fearlessly, Hon. Deputy Speaker. That is how we love the public service. Today a false notion is being spread that the public service is not working because we are pressuring them. That is not so. We assure here and now that we will protect the entire State machinery, including the Provincial Commissioner who took that courageous decision yesterday.

¶ 05 I must explain a few provisions to Hon. Mujibur Rahuman and Hon. Sajith Premadasa. What is alleged to be wrong? The matter starts under Section 66B of the Provincial Councils Elections (Amendment) Act, No. 22 of 2012. Section 66C states that the first sitting to elect the Chairman/Mayor of an Urban or Pradeshiya Sabha is presided over by the Provincial Commissioner. After convening, the Provincial Commissioner takes the Chair. Let Hon. Sajith Premadasa come tomorrow morning and explain to the country what this provision says.

¶ 06 Under Section 66C(6) of the same Act, it states:

¶ 07 “When two or more members have been nominated and seconded for election as Mayor, the mode of election shall be by open or secret vote as determined by a motion of the members present. Where the votes taken under such a motion are equally divided, the mode of election shall be determined by drawing lots before the presiding officer, in such manner as he may direct.”

¶ 08 Previously, it says “open or secret vote”—one of the two. If, on such a motion, the votes are equally divided, lots must be drawn. Then, by a subsequent provision, it is said that the election itself should be conducted—this is about the vote to elect the Mayor. But before that comes the question: shall the vote be by open or secret ballot? That specific preliminary vote is not elaborated elsewhere in the Act. For that, a later provision provides that the officer present may exercise discretionary power as per the Act. It is in the law.

¶ 09 Accordingly, where members have the choice to decide whether the Mayor is to be elected by open or secret ballot, if they decide to hold it openly, a matter of conscience arises. Therefore, for greater transparency and democracy, the officer should take the appropriate decision. Using that discretion, she decided for a secret ballot. Why? Because the numbers were cobbled together by combining our 48 with several others on the opposite side. Then conscience comes into play: to whom is one giving one’s vote? Hence, the Commissioner took the correct decision: to enable members to vote according to conscience via a secret ballot. Can Hon. Sajith Premadasa or Hon. Mujibur Rahuman challenge that? That is the law of the land. She repeatedly said, “I am following the statute.” After an hour had passed, their own member Roy said: let us go to a secret ballot. We know Hon. Roy; he is experienced, not a novice. He decided: no more time-wasting; let us go to a secret ballot. They consented to a secret ballot and lost. So where is that “list of 60”? Hon. Mujibur Rahuman is still running; he has not even come to Parliament today, nor to the boycotters’ bench. This is now crystal clear. There was no change in the law.

¶ 10 Hon. Deputy Speaker, let me also place on record some thanks relating to the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC). We have shifted significant power in a major municipal body. For instance, we finally repositioned the Kelani railway line after decades. We have learned why, after once capturing power in the 1950s, the left lost it. The CMC is both the richest and the most corrupt local authority in Sri Lanka: the largest population, the most funds received and misused, the largest slush channeled to political henchmen and underworld elements, the largest stamp duty revenue but with immense pilferage, and many other ills. Yesterday, the National People’s Power took over the administration of that machinery. Colombo has been turned, over time, from a city of a left vision into a slum city by politics that served narrow interests. Unauthorized constructions proliferated; people were driven into underworld jobs; public officers were assaulted and driven away while wrongdoers were protected. Even mid-level and upper middle-class housing schemes suffered. This is the inheritance that ruined Colombo.

¶ 11 Hon. Deputy Speaker, I request two more minutes.

¶ 12 We will now rebuild Colombo. Our victory is historic across regions: in the North, against entrenched caste oppression; in the hills, against neighboring political strongmen; in Kandy and the South, with new narratives; and in Colombo, a distinct transformation. We congratulate the new Mayor, Sister Vraie Kelly Balthazaar, and the Deputy Mayor, Brother Hemanta Weerakoon. Both of us served together in the CMC from 2002; I led it twice; he longer. He brings deep experience. We also thank the Opposition because the Deputy Mayoralty was given to the NPP unanimously. We invite everyone to join in rebuilding Colombo. Give us six months and see the change.

¶ 13 In the past, former CMC members and senior officials arrived in vehicles with dark tinted glass. Yet when exiting, a citizen of our own city would be begging outside. Colombo’s revenue is vast, but every street looked like a “wattha”—slum clusters labelled 45 Watta, 65 Watta, 20 Watta, etc. The rulers made the people carry those labels. Under the new Mayor’s leadership, we will change that history and move beyond. CMC cannot be run by a single authority alone; it needs Central Government blessing: UDA, Lowlands Development Board, National Housing Commissioner—all are under the Central Government, which is the NPP. The President is NPP. For the first time, our powers align. We express gratitude to the people of Colombo and all who helped us make history. We will change Colombo.

¶ 14 Thank you.