By Camelia Nathaniel/Daily News

Colombo, June 20 – Colombo witnessed a historic transformation in its political landscape on June16, as Vraie Cally Balthazaar was elected as the city’s new Mayor, only the second woman ever to hold this prestigious position. Her election signifies a dramatic shift from the long-standing dominance of traditional political parties, ushering in a fresh wave of progressive, people-centric governance.

With a reputation built on her multifaceted career in media, gender studies and grassroots activism, Balthazaar emerges as a leader uniquely equipped to address Colombo’s most pressing challenges, from urban congestion and housing shortages to environmental concerns and economic inequality.

Born on 10 April 1985, in Colombo, Balthazaar grew up in a city of stark contrasts, where glittering skyscrapers stood adjacent to neglected, underserved communities. These early experiences shaped her deep awareness of social disparities.

Education and Career

Educated at Methodist College, she cultivated a strong foundation in critical thinking and creative expression. Her academic journey took her to Northumbria University in the UK, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Design, refining her eye for innovation and aesthetics. But her growing consciousness of systemic inequalities propelled her to pursue further studies in gender and development. She obtained a Postgraduate Diploma in Women and Gender Studies from the University of Colombo, focusing on urban poverty, labour rights and gender-based disparities, insights that would later inform her political vision.

Balthazaar’s career in media, spanning nearly two decades from 2004 to 2022, established her as a beloved public figure and influential voice. She became known for her compelling interviews and ability to engage with diverse audiences across the country. But her influence extended beyond entertainment; she used her platform to spotlight the stories and struggles of marginalised communities, especially women, informal workers and the urban poor. Her media presence became a tool for advocacy, raising awareness on critical social issues often ignored by mainstream narratives.

Alongside her media work, Balthazaar engaged in impactful research and advocacy from 2018 to 2024, delving into the intersection of gender and urban development. Her research focused on how city infrastructure affects women’s safety and livelihoods and the precarious lives of informal sector workers such as street vendors and domestic helpers. Through fieldwork, she built close relationships with low-income families and communities grappling with inadequate housing, poor sanitation and chronic economic instability. These experiences reinforced her belief that true development must be inclusive, equitable and rooted in the lived realities of the city’s most vulnerable residents.

Grassroots movement

Her political journey was born out of this sense of urgency for social justice. In 2018, she joined the grassroots movement Rise Up, advocating for gender equality and workers’ rights. By 2019, she had begun collaborating with Aluth Piyapath and the Progressive Women’s Collective, where she focused on increasing women’s political participation and economic empowerment. Her entry into formal politics came in 2021 when she aligned with the Socialist Youth Union (SYU), the youth wing of the JanathaVimukthiPeramuna (JVP), before rising through the ranks of the National People’s Power (NPP) coalition.

By 2023, Balthazaar had emerged as a leading voice for Colombo’s urban poor, earning her place as the NPP’s group leader for Colombo ahead of the 2025 Local Government elections. Her rise was cemented during the 2024 Parliamentary elections when she contested the Colombo District (North) and secured an impressive 44,633 preferential votes, a clear signal of her growing resonance with the electorate. In 2025, she further solidified her political standing by winning the Thimbirigasyaya ward, contributing to the NPP’s landmark 48-seat majority in the Colombo Municipal Council. Her election as Mayor on 16 June 2025 broke a decades-long cycle, making it the first time since 1954 that a progressive, centre-left alliance has governed Colombo’s municipal affairs.

Her win also marks a historic break from the nearly uninterrupted control of Colombo’s municipal affairs by the traditional political establishment, primarily the UNP and its offshoots. For the first time since 1947, a leftist, people-powered political movement has seized the city’s top Local Government post, signalling a significant reorientation in voter sentiment and urban governance priorities.

Balthazaar’s election is also emblematic of a broader political shift that gained momentum during the 2022 Aragalaya movement. With growing public disillusionment over economic mismanagement, corruption and stagnation among mainstream parties, the NPP’s platform of reform and grassroots empowerment has gained traction. Her victory reflects the aspirations of a public eager for a clean break from entrenched political dynamics.

Transparency

Balthazaar brings with her a bold and comprehensive vision for Colombo’s future. One of her top priorities is inclusive urban development. Drawing from her research background, she plans to expand affordable housing to address slum proliferation and introduce gender-responsive city planning, ensuring safer streets, better lighting and more accessible public transportation for women. Her environmental agenda includes urban forestry, better waste management and comprehensive flood mitigation strategies aimed at building climate resilience.

Transparency and accountability are also at the heart of her leadership style. She plansto establish digital platforms that allow citizens to engage with the municipal government in real time, submit feedback and track progress. She is committed to rooting out corruption in municipal contracts and promoting participatory budgeting so that city funds are directed to where they’re needed most; especially in underserved neighbourhoods.

Empowerment of marginalised communities is another pillar of her mayoral agenda. She plans to implement skills training programmes for informal workers, support street vendors through designated, regulated marketplaces and ensure the implementation of women’s safety initiatives, including harassment-free public transport options.

In terms of economic development, Balthazaar is focused on fostering sustainable growth. She aims to promote local entrepreneurship, especially women-led businesses, revitalise Colombo’s heritage sites to boost cultural tourism and transition municipal buildings to renewable energy sources. These initiatives not only aim to stimulate the economy but also align with global sustainability goals.

Challenges

However, the road ahead is not without its challenges. Balthazaar’s immediate priorities include cutting through bureaucratic delays in infrastructure development, resolving Colombo’s longstanding traffic crisis by enhancing public transport systems and ensuring equitable access to essential services like water and sanitation. Her ability to push through these reforms in a diverse and potentially divided council will test her negotiation skills and political resolve. There are already signs that collaboration across ideological lines may be necessary, demanding that she balance pragmatism with principle.

Her long-term vision is even more ambitious: transforming Colombo into a smart, inclusive and environmentally sustainable South Asian city that bridges the gap between affluent and low-income neighbourhoods and becomes a hub for innovation and sustainable tourism.

As she takes office, the people of Colombo have reason to hope for a more just and inclusive future. Her leadership stands as a testament to what is possible when vision is combined with action and when politics becomes a tool for empowerment rather than privilege. Colombo’s future, under her stewardship, appears to be in confident, compassionate and capable hands.

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