Uvais Mohamed Imitiyas was the
Mayor of Colombo
The Mayor of Colombo is the Mayor (and head) of the Colombo Municipal Council. The post was created in 1866 when the Colombo Municipal Council was established by the Legislative Council of Ceylon. The Mayor is assisted by the Deputy Mayor and a ...
from 2006 to 2011. Imtiyas was an
Auto rickshaw
An auto rickshaw is a motorized version of the pulled rickshaw or cycle rickshaw. Most have three wheels and do not tilt. They are known by many terms in various countries including auto, auto rickshaw, baby taxi, mototaxi, pigeon, jonnybee, bajaj ...
driver from an impoverished background who contested local government elections on an independent ticket. At that stage he had no realistic chance of being elected. However, technical electoral issues (proposing an underage candidate in the list) meant that the
UNP candidates led by
Sirisena Cooray
Bulathsinghalage Sirisena Cooray, JP (25 April 1931 – 30 November 2021) was a Sri Lankan politician.
Biography
He was the Mayor of Colombo from 1979 to 1989 and was elected from Colombo to Parliament in the 9th parliamentary election in 198 ...
could not contest the election. An agreement was reached to use the symbol of Imitiyas's group on the condition that he would renounce the seat if elected, allowing the UNP to appoint a mayor of their own choice. UNP led by Cooray campaigned for the independent group and they won under the spectacles symbol, but Imitiyas reneged on the agreement and remained in office, joining the ruling
UPFA
The United People's Freedom Alliance (abbreviated UPFA; si, එක්සත් ජනතා නිදහස් සන්ධානය ''Eksath Janathā Nidahas Sandānaya''; ta, ஐக்கிய மக்கள் சுதந்திரக ...
and did not stand for re-election.
2006 winners of Colombo Municipal Council election to support ruling alliance this time
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References
External links
Mayor Imitiyas facing one-man commission of inquiry in July 2007
Past Mayors of Colombo (official site)
Ex-mayor-now-a-chauffeur
Colombo MC Jewel In The Crown, Kandy, Dehiwela – Mt Lavinia Close Behind
Living people
Mayors of Colombo
Year of birth missing (living people)
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