Metro Corp on way

City Governor to head Corporation:

Solution to development problems:

Ishara MUDUGAMUWA

The Government decided to establish an organization named Colombo Metropolitan City Corporation to assist the five local bodies in the city region, said Environment Minister Anura Priyadarashana Yapa.

He was addressing the weekly Cabinet Press briefing at the Government Information Department yesterday.

The five local bodies are Colombo Municipal Council, Dehiwala- Mount- Lavinia Municipal Council, Sri Jayawardenapura- Kotte Municipal Council, Kolonnawa Urban Council and Kotikawatta-Mulleriyawa Pradeshiya Sabha. The Establishment of the Colombo Metropolitan City Corporation will not damage the local government bodies, the Minister said.

The Minister said the Government decided to establish the Colombo Metropolitan City Corporation to find solutions to problems which arise due to the development process.

The Minister also said that in the recent past sanitary, environment problems and garbage disposal problems arose and it was necessary to find long-term solutions for these.

“The City Corporation will be headed by a City Governor appointed by the President. All Heads and Deputy Heads of five local bodies and a nominated member from the opposition of each local authority will constitute the composition of the corporation. Twelve Advisory Committees comprising elected members of local bodies will also be set up to advice the corporation. This will enable the ruling and the opposition members to play a participatory role in excising the powers of the new corporation in more democratic manner,” he said.

“Cabinet approval has been granted to instruct the Legal Draftsmen to prepare legislation to present in Parliament on a proposal by Local Government and Provincial Council, Minister A L M Athaulla,” Minister Yapa said.