Mayor Emthiyas pledged to support President Rajapaksa

23 councillors including Colombo Mayor, UM Emthiyas, Deputy Mayor S Rajendran were handed over SLFP membership cards by President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

“I told the president that I would like to work with him. I am small man and would like to serve the small,” Mayor Uvais Mohmed Emthiyas told BBC Sinhala after meeting the President.

The CMC was won by Independent group 03 at the local elections held in May, this year.

I told the president that I would like to work with him. I am small man and would like to serve the small Mayor Emthiyas

It was the first time the major political parties, SLFP and the main opposition United National Party (UNP), failed to secure the control over the most important Municipal Council.

The UNP supported the independent group led by S Rajendran as elections commissioner rejected their nomination papers.

Group leader S Rajendran told BBC Sandeshaya that 20 councillors were to resign paving the way for UNP candidates to take over.

But the former three-wheeler driver, Emthiyas, has stayed in power with his group resisting calls to allow Sirisena Cooray to take over as Colombo Mayor.