People's Mandate Will Never Be Manipulated, Minister Vijitha Assures

COLOMBO (News 1st) - Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, and Tourism Vijitha Herath said today that the government will not allow certain opposition groups to misinterpret or manipulate the people's mandate in the recent local government elections.

Minister Herath emphasized that the Compass received the highest number of votes in the election, and he asserted that they had a clear victory.

He addressed claims by opposition groups, stating that it is incorrect to group all other parties as anti-government. 

"There are many different groups. It's wrong to call all of them anti-government. They contested in the local elections to win seats and represent their own villages," he said.

The Minister also specifically addressed the ongoing debate over control of the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC).

"In Colombo, we won the most seats, 48 in total. The SJB only has 29 seats. Their mayoral candidate also lost in their own ward, to a 19-year-old candidate representing the Compass," he pointed out. "Now the SJB, even after losing their own division, is trying to take control of the CMC. That is not going to happen. We are confident that the Compass will lead the Colombo Municipal Council."

He emphasized that the National People's Power would not resort to bribery or unfair tactics to gain control of any local government body.