Colombo, Sri Lanka – 30 August 2026 – A significant shift in local governance for the Kotikawatta Mulleriyawa area has been officially announced, with Mr. Abdul Raheem Mohamed Mudassir vacating his office as a member of the Kotikawatta Mulleriyawa Pradeshiya Sabha. The declaration, issued by the Election Commission, was formally published in an Extraordinary Gazette (No. 2502/48) on Friday, August 21, 2026.
Legal Basis for Vacation of Office
The Gazette Extraordinary, titled “2502/48 — Election Commission,” explicitly states that Mr. Mudassir’s departure from his elected position stems from his cessation of membership with the United Peace Alliance. This action is undertaken in strict accordance with Section 10A(1)(a) of the Local Authorities Elections Ordinance (Chapter 262), which outlines the conditions under which a member of a local authority may vacate office.
Official Declaration by Returning Officer
The formal notice confirming the vacation of office was issued by Mr. Pakkiyarajah Ragunathan, the Returning Officer for the Kotikawatta Mulleriyawa Pradeshiya Sabha. In his declaration, originating from the District Elections Office in Colombo, Mr. Ragunathan affirmed that Mr. Mudassir has ceased to be a member of the United Peace Alliance, thereby legally vacating his seat in the Pradeshiya Sabha.
Such declarations are critical for maintaining the structural integrity and legal framework of Sri Lanka’s local government bodies, ensuring that elected officials adhere to the regulations concerning their political affiliations and the terms under which they were elected.
Implications for Kotikawatta Mulleriyawa Pradeshiya Sabha
The vacation of Mr. Mudassir’s seat will likely necessitate further action by the Election Commission and the Kotikawatta Mulleriyawa Pradeshiya Sabha, potentially leading to the appointment of a new member from the United Peace Alliance’s electoral list or, if applicable, a by-election, in line with the provisions of the Local Authorities Elections Ordinance. This development underscores the dynamic nature of local politics and the continuous oversight required to ensure adherence to electoral laws.
The Extraordinary Gazette, a public document, bears the Sinhala title ‘ශ්රී ලංකා ප්රජාතාන්ත්රික සමාජවාදී ජනරජයේ ගැසට් පත්රය අති විශේෂ’ and serves as the official record of this significant update.
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