Colombo Mayor Vraîe Cally Balthazaar said the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) budget was intended to shape the future of the city of Colombo, rather than serve the interests of the council itself.
Addressing councillors after the budget vote, the Mayor stated that following the establishment of control over the local authority, the National People’s Power (NPP) administration had worked cordially with all members, regardless of party affiliation.
Responding to the defeat of the budget, Balthazaar told councillors who voted against it, “You did not defeat the NPP’s budget; you defeated your conscience and a budget of conscience.”
She urged those who opposed the budget to reflect on the impact of their decision on the expectations of the people of Colombo. “Evil people doing bad things is normal. But good people coming together when something bad happens is even more frightening,” she said.
The comments were made after the ruling NPP lost the budget vote at the Colombo Municipal Council yesterday, with 60 councillors voting against the budget and 57 voting in favour, following a joint opposition vote.
