Sri Lanka, June 16 -- Defeated Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) mayoral candidate Riza Zarook has accused the Commissioner of the Department of Local Government for the Western Province of acting unfairly during the election to appoint the new Mayor of Colombo held this morning.

Zarook claimed that Commissioner Sarangika Jayasundara made an arbitrary decision to conduct the vote through a secret ballot, despite objections raised by his party.

"At the very start, the Commissioner announced that the vote could be held either by secret or open ballot, but according to procedure, that method should be determined by a majority decision of the councillors," Zarook said.

He alleged that the Commissioner unilaterally declared that the decision on ...