Sri Lanka ruling party's Mohammed Maharoof appointed as Opposition Leader of Colombo Municipal Council

Sri Lanka ruling party's Mohammed Maharoof has been appointed as the Opposition Leader of the Colombo Municipal Council. Addressing a press conference held in the Opposition Leader's office of the Colombo Municipal Council today, Maharoof said that
he was supported by 19 out of the 21 opposition council members of the Colombo Municipal Council. Colombo Municipal Council is ruled by the United National Party (UNP) and the country's ruling United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) is the opposition of the CMC. The post of Opposition Leader of the Colombo Municipal Council became vacant when the former Minister Milinda Moragoda resigned from the post to concentrate on his other political work. Maharoof, a former Minister joined the ruling UPFA days ahead of the CMC election since the UNP denied the Mayor candidacy of the council to him. Mahroof's decision, hours ahead of handing in nomination to the CMC elections last August, was regarded as a severe blow to the UNP. However, the UNP won the CMC at the election, their only victory in the local government elections. However, another stalwart of the Colombo Municipal Council, Asath Sally has not supported Maharoof's appointment, UPFA sources say.