Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP S.M. Marikkar says that residents of the Colombo Port City are effectively disenfranchised during local government elections, raising fundamental rights concerns over their lack of local council representation.
Speaking at a recent meeting of the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Infrastructure and Strategic Development which Marikkar chairs, he pointed out that while Port City residents are registered to vote within the Colombo District for national elections, they have no designated local polling area or local body representation for local council elections.
He said that although residents can cast ballots in presidential or parliamentary elections under the Colombo District, the absence of a designated local council polling venue violates their fundamental rights.
He added that establishing a separate local authority specifically for the Port City area may be necessary to resolve the issue.
Officials explained that a 2019 Gazette issued by the Minister of Internal and Home Affairs and Provincial Councils and Local Government formally incorporated the Port City land into the Colombo Administrative District under Section 3 of the Administrative Districts Act No. 22 of 1995.
They said that this gazette notice adequately covers representation concerns at the district level.
However, the Marikkar countered that while the gazette ensures inclusion for national-level voting, it completely fails to address local authority representation.
He said that if the issue remains unaddressed and is eventually taken to court, potential legal challenges could risk causing delays to the Port City project.
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