Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) has suspended Mayor of Hambantota Gamini Sri Ananda from the party and informed the Hambantota Assistant Commissioner of Elections in order to sack him from the membership of the Hambantota Urban Council and thereby remove him from the post of Mayor.

He has been suspended from the SLPP as he has tendered nominations from an independent group which is contesting for the Hambantota Urban Council at the election that is scheduled to be held on March 9.

He told Daily Mirror that the Elections Office has informed him that the SLPP General Secretary’s letter informing his suspension from the party had been received, but he would continue to function in his post until his removal is officially gazetted. He said the SLPP had called for explanation from him but he had not responded to it.

He had been appointed to the post to succeed former mayor Eraj Ravindra Fernando who resigned from the post.