Vraîe Cally Balthazaar Elected Colombo Mayor

COLOMBO (News 1st); In a closely watched and hotly debated vote, Vraîe Cally Balthazaar of the National People’s Power (NPP) has been elected as the new Mayor of Colombo, securing 61 votes in a secret ballot held during the inaugural session of the Colombo Municipal Council.

Balthazaar defeated Riza Zarook of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), who received 54 votes. Two votes were rejected.

The election followed intense discussions among council members over whether the vote should be conducted openly or by secret ballot. After more than an hour of deliberation, consensus was reached to proceed with a secret vote.

The Colombo Municipal Council, comprising 117 members, saw the NPP emerge as the largest party with 48 seats in the May 6 local government elections.

However, it lacked an outright majority.

The inaugural session was presided over by Western Province Commissioner of Local Government, Sarangika Jayasundara. According to council procedure, the first order of business was the election of the Mayor.

Balthazaar’s election marks a significant milestone for the NPP and for Colombo’s political landscape, as she becomes one of the few women to hold the city’s top municipal office.