Council's only woman member writes to Mayor

Colombo MC being led on wrong path

Colombo MMC Sharmila Jayawardana Gonawela, the only woman member in the Colombo Municipal Council has alleged that the Council is being led on the wrong path by a coterie of people causing great hardship to ratepayers.

In a letter to the Mayor, she has said all her efforts to talk the truth and point out shortcomings has only brought her to redicule and character assassination as a woman member.

Gonawela in her letter has alleged that there are many instances where certain MMC had even resorted to lowly acts unbecoming of their status.

Certain segments in the Council supportive of bribery and corruption have obtained more privileges making a majority of people's representives' officials and minor staff to face public criticism, Gonawela said.

She has alleged that instead of using public money for productive purposes, funds are being spent on unnecessary litigation due to the Council investment in court cases resulting from bad management and official inefficiency. The service to ratepayers by the CMC today was minimal. Inconveniences faced by the public are manifold.

Outdated and unauthorised billboards have not been removed in time causing loss of income to the council. Some billboards have been put up improperly causing inconvenience to pedestrians, she said.

Gonawela said in her letter that the best example of antagonism done to women was the manner in which a new fleet of vehicles were assigned to CMC staff.

Although it was stated that all departmental heads would be allocated vehicles, municipal secretary, Director of sports and librarian who are women had not received any vehicles.

There are many Municipal buildings needing repairs and proper maintenance. Water and electricity supplies to community centres have been disconnected. Recreation halls remain neglected. Many streets are dark at night due to lack of proper street lights.

Playgrounds and storm water drains are clogged due to improper maintenance. Despite these shortcomings the council had recently purchased 21 new vehicles at Rs. 3.2 million each, causing a grave injustice to ratepayers, Gonawela said.

Gonawela said as people's representatives, they would face grave inconvenience when they go to explain matters to voters at the forthcoming Local Government elections.

She said she had brought these matters to the Mayor's notice earlier too but regretted the lack of any favourable response to it.