Central Province Governor sacks Matale Mayor after probe by retired HC Judge faults him

BY CYRIL WIMALASURENDRE

KANDY –

Daljith Nandalal Aluwihare has been removed from the post of Mayor of Matale with effect from Tuesday by the Central Province Governor Lalith U. Gamage.

Gamage has said, in a media report, that he took that decision after studying the report submitted by retired High Court Judge Kusala Sarojini Weerawardena, who had been tasked with investigating various allegations against Aluwihare.

Weerawardena has found that Aluwihare misused the powers vested in him as Mayor. Gamage said he had removed the Mayou under the Provincial Council Act No.12 of 1989. .

Retired Judge Weerawardena submitted her report to Governor Gamage in late November.

In August 2020, Gamage suspended Aluwihare and ordered the probe.

Deputy Mayor Sandanam Prakash was appointed the acting Mayor.

Aluwihare became Mayor after the Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC) and the United National Party (UNP) formed an alliance after the Local Government Elections 2018.

The current Acting Mayor is a representative of the CWC. There have been disputes between Aluwihare and other counselors including Prakash.