Unauthorised structures come under scrutiny

A special investigation initiated by the Central Province Chief Minister is to be launched into the construction of unauthorised structures in the Kandy Municipal area under the present Mayor, an Opposition councillor said.

The Opposition Leader of the Kandy Municipal Council (KMC) Thilina Bandara Tennakoon said that illegal constructions were taking place in a haphazard manner in the town and causing inconvenience to the public as they were encroaching on the roads.
Mr.Tennakoon said the Mayor had no authority to allow such illegal constructions encroaching on road space and alleged a close confidant of the Mayor who had put up such a construction was in the process of leasing it out to traders as shops at an astronomical price.

He also said there was no proper collection of taxes from the traders in the KMC area. The Opposition Leader said the Chief Minister was empowered to inquire into these and other allegations. If the charges levelled at the Mayor were proved, the Chief Minister had the authority to remove the Mayor, he said.