Colombo (LNW): The Election Commission has launched a probe against Urban Commissioner of the Colombo Municipal Council Bhadrani Jayawardena, based on the allegation of inviting politicians to a function held by the Council avoiding the Commission’s orders otherwise.
Mrs. Jayawardena has been accused of calling in politicians to the opening ceremony of the Community Hall built on Saibu Street in Colombo 12 by the Sports and Recreation Department of the Colombo Municipal Council.
Jayawardena had been informed in writing by Additional Election Commissioner (Legal Investigation and Planning) B.P.C. Kularatne to hold the said ceremony with the sole participation of government employees thereby expressly excluding any political figures, based on a complaint by a group of candidates of the upcoming Local Government Election, in the backdrop where nominations are yet to be called in for LG polls.
The Urban Commissioner of the Colombo Municipal Council, however, had avoided the instructions, and welcomed Sagala Ratnayake, Chief of the President’s Staff and Colombo Organiser of the United National Party (UNP), and former Mayor of the Council Rosy Senanayake, along with a few other party candidates of the upcoming polls.
The event was opposed in a stringent manner by former urban council members of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), but was carried on amidst Police protection.
