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Message: <blockquote data-quote="lkdood" data-source="post: 12581633" data-attributes="member: 92282"><img src="http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQfyFxrdlbhkGZkKxn89IRgCl7rjqvYnDKFaWPwYKcb4XgJXVVQ" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" />Opposition Leader of the Colombo Municipal Council Milinda Moragoda  announced today that he has decided to step down as Leader of the  Opposition and Member of the Council.Making a statement at the Opposition Group meeting, Mr. Moragoda says as  he unable to give full commitment to the affairs of the council he has  decided to resign.“It is essential that the Leader of the Opposition give full commitment  to the affairs of the Council and ensure that the foundation we have  established remains united and resolute. My present responsibilities  elsewhere prevent me from filling that role, and it is for that reason  and that reason alone, that I have decided to step down,” he said.The full statementDuring thirty years of war, the citizens of our city had to endure  deprivation and neglect. Therefore, when President Mahinda Rajapaksa  invited me some eight months ago to be the UPFA candidate for election  as Mayor of Colombo, I recognized the opportunity to serve this City and  its citizens and, after much reflection decided to accept.At the start of my campaign, I put forward a detailed policy and  governance platform that aimed at making nothing less than a  revolutionary transformation of Colombo into an advanced modern city to  rival others in Asia and elsewhere. It was not only revolutionary in  scope, but would also require a revolution in our political culture – a  unified effort by all sides, to achieve its objectives. As you know, we  did not succeed, and the election resulted in a fractured mandate. This  has required the UPFA and our allies in the Municipal Council to begin a  process of political consolidation.Since Sri Lanka regained its independence in 1948, Colombo politics has  been dominated by a single political party. But the results of our  recent election have, for the first time, signaled an important  electoral shift that has created the potential for the UPFA to win a  clear mandate from the citizens of Colombo at a future election. Over  the past six months I have worked hard to build a strong team that will  provide the necessary foundation to enable us to achieve that objective.  As a result, we are today strongly positioned in the Municipal Council.  This was recently proven when the UPFA and our allies were able to win a  crucial majority of seats in the Finance Committee, the most important  committee in the Council.To move forward to the next stage, however, it is essential that the  Leader of the Opposition give full commitment to the affairs of the  Council and ensure that the foundation we have established remains  united and resolute. My present responsibilities elsewhere prevent me  from filling that role, and it is for that reason, and that reason  alone, that I have decided to step down as Leader of the Opposition, and  Member of the Council. As I do so, I want to assure you that I stand  ready to provide advice and guidance to the new Leader should he so  desire, and I will continue to serve the citizens of our great City in  various other capacities as I have always done. In addition, in my role  as Senior Advisor to the President, my support and assistance will be  available to you.I feel honoured to have served as a Member of the CMC, an institution  with a venerable history and traditions, and would like to express my  gratitude to all of you for your unstinting support and for the  confidence that you have placed in me from the very beginning. My  appreciation extends to all of you here who joined together to work as a  united team. We have had our difficulties and challenges, but at the  end of the day I am happy to say that we have accomplished much and have  the clear potential to be a winning team.I would like to place on record my gratitude to President Mahinda  Rajapaksa for inviting me to take up the challenges offered in seeking  to lead the Colombo Municipal Council, and to our President and to  Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa for their support and encouragement during  my tenure as Leader of the Opposition.I also wish to thank the Mayor of Colombo, the Commissioner, officials  and staff of the Colombo Municipal Council for the assistance rendered  to me during my tenure in office. Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to state categorically  that speculation appearing in the media that I will be taking up a  position in an important international organization is not true, and is  moreover completely without foundation. My commitment remains to serve  the citizens of Colombo and of our great country.DM</blockquote>

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