INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
The National Peoples Power (NPP) today (23) succeeded in taking power in the Matale Municipal Council.Accordingly, Ashoka Kottahachchi,
representing the NPP, was chosen Mayor of the Matale Municipal Council by protecting 12 votes, while M
Morgan, representing the Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC), was chosen Vice-Chairman unopposed.As no party holds a majority in the Matale
Municipal Council, a vote to select a Mayor and Deputy Mayor was held today at the Matale Municipal Council chamber, with the participation
of Central Local Government Commissioner Chamila Atapattu.Shortly after the voting began, 10 members of the council, including those from
the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), boycotted the vote and went out of the chamber.However, the Local Government Commissioner proceeded with
the vote, as the council still had a quorum
The Mayor and Deputy Mayor were elected during this time, according to an Ada Derana reporter.The group of councillors who boycotted the
assembly stated that their walkout remained in demonstration against the presence of a female councillor whom they claimed was disqualified
to hold office, in offense of the Local Authorities Act
They declared that the election was for that reason illegal.In the Local Authorities elections, the NPP won 10 seats in the Matale Municipal
Council.Additionally, the SJB secured 6 seats, the Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC) won 2 seats, the United National Party (UNP) 1 seat, the
Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) 1 seat, the Sarvajana Balaya Party 1 seat, and the United National Alliance 1 seat.
