Mayor of Matale Duljith Aluvihare said suspending him from functioning in his post was an act of political victimisation and that it amounted to an excessive use of power on the part of the Governor, and that he filed a petition against it in the high court. He told the media that the government was misusing its two-thirds majority to victimise rival politicians.

“The UNP had been victorious only in Matale at the last local government election and I had scored a triumph at the local government election. Suspending me from the post is ultra vires on the part of the Governor. I have not resorted to any illegal act or malpractice and I have been conscious of my duty to the public who voted me to power. Ruling party politicians representing the Matale District have motivated this political victimisation,” he said.

He requests President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to appoint an investigation team to probe the allegations against me and to take legal action against me, if found guilty of corruption or malpractice. By Mahesh Kirthiratne