Colombo, May 12 – A week after Sri Lanka's local council elections, political manoeuvring is underway as parties scramble to form ruling coalitions in key councils, particularly the Colombo Municipal Council, following a mixed verdict at the ballot box.
Out of the 338 local councils that went to polls on May 6, the ruling National People’s Power (NPP) emerged as the single largest party, winning 265 councils. However, the NPP faces stiff competition in 120 of those councils where opposition parties collectively hold more seats than the ruling party.
Colombo Council Becomes the Focal Point
The Colombo Municipal Council, the most prominent and politically symbolic of all councils, has become the centre of intense coalition efforts. While the NPP secured 48 out of 117 seats, the combined opposition holds a majority with 69 seats, sparking negotiations and rival claims to form the council's leadership.The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), the main opposition party, stated it is engaging with other opposition-aligned councillors to elect a new mayor from within their ranks. "We are confident of forming the administration in Colombo with a consensus candidate," said a party spokesperson.
NPP Faces Setback Amid Claims of Integrity
The local polls marked the first significant political test for President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who won the presidency in September followed by parliamentary success in November. However, the NPP’s performance showed signs of voter drift, with a reported loss of over two million votes compared to the previous general election.Despite holding the most individual seats nationwide, the NPP’s inability to form majorities in certain councils has prompted a push to win over individual councillors. Deputy Minister Sunil Watagala defended the party’s efforts, stating, “We are talking to members as individuals so they can join us to set up a clean administration.”
This approach, however, drew criticism from the opposition. “The NPP can’t buy over members, it is against what they always said,” said Mujibar Rahman, an SJB parliamentarian, alluding to the NPP’s previous anti-corruption and anti-defection stance.
Political Landscape in Flux
As coalition talks continue, the coming days will be crucial in shaping the local governance landscape. The results have exposed vulnerabilities for the NPP and signalled that traditional political forces still hold sway in several key regions despite recent national setbacks.With control of councils like Colombo at stake, both ruling and opposition parties are working behind the scenes to secure alliances that could define local politics in the months to come.