ANCL highest ratepayer in Colombo

Shirley Wijesinghe

A significant development in revenue collection from Colombo City’s ratepayers was observed in January this year compared to last year, Chief Accountant (Rates) C.J.K. Perera told the Daily News yesterday. The revenue collection from the ratepayers was approximately Rs 677 million in 2007, Rs 676 million (2008), Rs 666 million (2009) .

“However we have collected over Rs.800 million in January this year,” he said.

The Special Honorary Citizen’s Card, recently introduced by CMC to recognize the good practice of paying rates on schedule has brought about this change and have clearly encouraged ratepayers to pay their rates on time, he said.

He said CMC has awarded these cards to 50 residential properties and 50 commercial properties in the city including ANCL considering its annual rate payment of Rs 5 million which is the highest amount collected from any institution in the city to date.

Both owners of residential and commercial properties are very keen to to be a Special honorary holder to get special treatment for their transactions with the CMC.

The arrangement which have been introduced by CMC to make their rate payments through Bank Credit Cards too had been useful for the timely collection of rates, he said.