Colombo needs a shake-up - Prof Samarajeewa

Nadira Gunatilleke

The Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) was one of the battlefields of LTTE leader Prabhakaran. He blew up buildings in Colombo, terrorized people and killed many people. We have to get over the negative effects of over 30 years of corrosive war. The CMC needs a lot of resources to rebuild it and catch up, Prof Rohan Samarajeewa told the Daily News yesterday.

According to Prof Samarajeewa this is a unique circumstance, a transformative period, a window of opportunity. We need to work with all players and build on the excellent foundation put in place by Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa. There is no doubt about that.

Prof Samarajeewa pointed out that people lived in fear during the terror period and built many fences, walls etc around them. People retreated. They did not move out and carry out any maintenance.

Everything included in UPFA CMC mayoral candidate Milinda Moragoda's manifesto is realistic and reachable. Funds from the World Bank, Asian Development Bank and other international donor agencies are already there in the system. Funds can be easily raised from our own private sector which is happy and excited about the newly beautified Colombo city. Moragoda's past track records have already proved his capabilities of raising funds, Prof Samarajeewa said.