Wariyapola Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman Tilakaratne Bandara has been removed from his post by North Western Province Governor Admiral of the Field Wasantha Karannagoda.
The North-Western Governor’s Office states that the Chairman was removed from office as he was found guilty of the charges presented by a one-man inquiry committee for allegations against him. An Extraordinary Gazette Notification has been issued in this regard.
The chairman has been removed with effect from January 1.
The power of the Wariyapola Pradeshiya Sabha is vested in the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna.
While the late Raja Collure was the Governor of the North-Western Province, an investigation was launched into a financial allegation leveled against Tilakaratne Bandara. Opposition MPs as well as several ruling party MPs had assisted in the investigation.
Mr. Tilakaratne Bandara, who was the Chairman of the Wariyapola Pradeshiya Sabha, has stated that he completely denies all financial allegations leveled against him and that some are trying to tarnish his good name in his long political career.
At the initial stage of the investigation, Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) member of the Pradeshiya Sabha Shantha Adasuriya told the media that if the chairman was removed, 19 members would be ready to resign in protest.
The ruling party Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) has 23 members in the Wariyapola Pradeshiya Sabha while the opposition has only 19 members.
