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New Colombo Mayor sworn in | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Uvais Mohamed Imthiyaz, 22, has sworn in as the new Mayor of Sri Lanka’s capital, Colombo. Former Colombo Mayor Sirisena Cooray, a Justice in Peace (JP), has administered oaths. Colombo Municipal Commissioner Dr. Jayantha Liyanage told BBC Sandeshaya that Mayor Imthiyaz handed him over a letter of resignation by Deputy Mayor K Chandrasena. The opposition United National Party (UNP) supported the election campaign of the victorious International Group 3. The UNP nominations list, headed by Sirisena Cooray, was rejected by the returning officer as it included a candidate younger than qualifying 18-years. Head of the Independent Group S Rajendran has nominated Imthiyaz as the Mayor and K Chandrasena, 65, as deputy mayor. Imthiyaz, a trishaw driver who has no political experience, is a close relative of Rajendran and has pledged to work together with the UNP. The UNP hopes to eventually take over from the independent group. The ruling United Peoples Alliance (UPFA) only managed to win 23 seats in the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC). UPFA group leader Vasudeva Nanayakkara has informed Dr. Liyanage that the group is to take oaths before President Rajapaksa on Sunday. | LOCAL LINKS  UNP: Don't punish voters22 May, 2006 | Sandeshaya CMC winners 'ready to resign'21 May, 2006 | Sandeshaya Independent group wins CMC21 May, 2006 | Sandeshaya UNP loses CMC petition24 March, 2006 | Sandeshaya | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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