Former Minister General (Retd) Anuruddha Ratwatte’s son Mahindra Ratwatte who is also the brother of Kandy district MP Lohan Ratwatte was named as Kandy’s Mayor, despite a policy decision of the UPFA not to appoint any member to head the council if a relative was in Parliament or a provincial council.
Mr. Mahindra Ratwatte received the highest number of preference votes but had a margin only of 800 votes above Sena Dissanayake who has represented the council for 28 years.
Earlier this week President Rajapaksa told Editors of local newspapers that they had taken a policy decision before the elections that if a person had received the highest preference votes, but had a relative in parliament or a provincial council will not be named for the top post.
He said one of the examples was in Negombo where Provincial council minister Nimal Lanza received the highest votes, but instead another person was being named.
Accordingly Anthony Jayaweera who came seventh in the list, but has served the council for more than 25 years was named as the Mayor.
The President said that another example was where Minister Sarana Gunawardena’s brother was not being named to the top post in the Gamapaha MC.
Meanwhile Timesonline learns that Mr. Sena Dissanayaka had expressed his displeasure about the appointment.
ST
