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CMC cancels 20-year hi-tech lamp post contract
View(s):The Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) has decided to stop a 20-year contract awarded to a private company to instal lamp posts with surveillance cameras and 4G and 5G Wi-Fi connections under a public-private partnership.
United National Party Council Member Roy Bogahawatte, who serves in the Finance Committee, told the Sunday Times that the council halted the contract awarded by Municipal commissioner V.K Anura when the council remained dissolved.
He said all council members supported an adjournment motion, calling for the cancellation of the contract. It was moved by Dayakantha Perera, Ramsi Dhoni, M.H Mansil and Anura Weerwardena.
At a discussion that followed, the council members unanimously decided to haltthe contract on the grounds that the price was too high and the duration exceeded the stipulated five-year period, Mr. Bogahawatte said.
He said that following the decision, Mayor Rosy Senanayake had agreed to appoint a technical committee to look into the legal and technical implications and hold talks with company on the possibility of renegotiating the contract in such a way that it would be cost-effective.