Six weeks in a row: Maharagama UC in commotion over alleged corruption of father-son duo

The Maharagama Urban Council, which is always in a state of crisis, had its fair share of commotions this week too.

The latest development was the media being kept out of council sessions on the orders of council chairman Tiraj Lakruwan Piyaratne.

The people have the right to know the decisions made and actions taken by the council. However, that opportunity was denied this week as both the public gallery and the media room were locked.

However, 23 Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) council members walked out of the council meeting in protest over the move. They later told journalists that they were kept out of the council meeting as a corrupt activity of the chairman was to be revealed. The chairman was elected from an independent group backed by SLPP after the SLPP nominations were rejected. The independent group members later resigned, enabling the SLPPers to enter the council.

SLPP council member Nishantha Wimalachandara alleged the chairman had used Rs 2.8 million from council funds to buy a new vehicle for the council vice chairman and his father Sunil Piyaratne. Mr. Wimalachandara said the vehicle was bought so that his father use it to travel to his restaurant at Pahiyangala in Bulathsinhala.

Endorsing the allegation was former council chairwoman Kanthi Kodikara, who contested under the UPFA ticket and supports the SLPP. She said the chairman and the vice chairman were stealing public funds and as these matters were about to be revealed, the media were shut out of the meeting. She said the Western Province Governor and the Local Government Commissioner were carrying out investigations on the alleged corruption involving the chairman and vice chairman.

This was the sixth consecutive week where council members walked out in protest over the chairman's behaviour.