The Hon. Asitha Niroshana Egoda Vithana

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to speak on the Orders under Act No. 49 of 2024.

¶ 02 Today is a satisfying day for the Government benches. Colombo Municipal Council has taken office under our side; we also secured Kolonnawa and Nuwara Eliya municipal councils. Despite the noise and drum‑beating by the Opposition, Colombo—which was long held by the UNP—is no longer theirs. Hon. Mujibur Rahman resigned from Parliament in 2023 to contest for Mayor, but when elections were postponed, he had neither seat nor mayoralty. Now, after returning to Parliament, he has failed again to secure CMC control despite SJB’s 29 seats.

¶ 03 The Opposition should reflect on internal disunity. In the latest local polls, NPP rose from 6 to 48 seats in CMC; UNP and SJB together have 42. Across Colombo’s wards, we won decisively—historic firsts in many divisions. Video evidence shows Hon. Roy Bogahawatte, a seasoned CMC member now with SJB, finally agreeing to proceed by secret ballot unanimously. If they opposed it, they could have exited. Instead, they attempted games, lost, and now complain in press conferences and media.

¶ 04 Parliament’s time should not be wasted with morning disruptions; schools visit this House to learn from a disciplined Parliament. Let us proceed in order.

¶ 05 With the momentum across local authorities far beyond the 267 bodies we initially targeted, and with national leadership, we are on course to rebuild the country. Thank you.

¶ 06 The Sitting was suspended at 1.00 p.m. for lunch and then resumed, DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES [THE HON. (MRS.) HEMALI WEERASEKARA] in the Chair.