Statement by Kandy Mayor

According to an article appearing in your front page of the Daily News newspaper of 19th April 2005, Sarath Ekanayake, the Chief Minister of the Central Province has directed the Central Provincial Local Government Commissioner to make initial investigations into allegations of misuse of power and alleged corruption in the Kandy Municipal Council. Apparently this follows from a complaint made by six opposition members of this Council who have written to the Chief Minister alleging various misdeeds in this Council.

I wish to categorically state that upon inquiry the Central Provincial Local Government Commissioner has informed me that the Chief Minister has not directed him to carry out any investigation into the affairs of the Kandy Municipal Council.

The present problem in this Council is that unknown persons acting without permission of the Kandy Municipal Council had constructed 12 temporary shops near the Kandy clock Tower.

The Chief Minister spoke to me and also wrote to me asking that these be removed. Acting not only on his instructions but also according to the laws which allow the Kandy Municipal Council to remove these buildings, I have removed all these unauthorised shops.

I have been Mayor of this historic city for three years now and I have never abused the trust placed in me by the citizens of Kandy nor have I knowingly allowed any misdeeds or corruption to flourish in my administration. Further if any commission is in fact appointed in future, I, my Deputy Mayor L.B. Aluvihare and all the 17 UNP members are prepared to face any investigation into the matters of this council.

May I in conclusion add that the Kandy Municipal council under my administration was adjudged the best Municipal Council in the Central Province last year and I personally accepted the award given for this by the present Chief Minister of the Central Province Mr. Sarath Ekanayake.