CMC future in the balance

The future of the Colombo Municipal Council is hanging in the balance with threats of it being suspended in the wake of a charge sheet issued against it by the Western Province Chief Minister Reginald Cooray while the mayor is vowing to resist such a move.
The CMC is required to respond before May 25 to the seven charges made by the Chief Minister or face action by him which could be a possible suspension of the council.

CMC Mayor Uvais Mohamed Imthiyaz said the charges would be replied to in due course while claiming certain groups with vested interests were trying to paralyse the functions of the CMC on political grounds.

The seven charges against the CMC included the granting of a solid waste management contract to a company outside tender procedure, an alleged fraud in purchasing roofing sheets, an alleged fraud of Rs. 20 million while purchasing sewing machines, spending CMC money for a private car park, discrepancies in charges for hoardings and ignoring tender board decisions.

The Mayor said groups having mere political agendas were trying to demoralise his inexperienced ruling councillors including himself.

He said that at a meeting with President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Tuesday there was a proposal to appoint an advisory board to assist the ruling councillors of the CMC and they expressed their willingness for it.

Responding to the charge that the CMC granted a solid waste management contract to a private company outside tender procedure, the mayor said the contract had been signed many years ago and what was done was to continue with it as otherwise the city could be full of garbage.Defending the purchase of roofing sheets which the Chief Minister had said was a fraudulent transaction, the Mayor said the contract for the items was offered to a contractor who promised to supply quality stuff as against other bidders who had low quality roofing sheets on offer.

He said so far the CMC had not purchased or distributed sewing machines whereas the Chief Minister had claimed in his charge sheet that an alleged fraud of Rs. 20 million occurred while purchasing sewing machines.

Reacting to the allegation that the CMC spent its money for a private car park, the Mayor said that under the circumstances which prevailed at that time, the council had to do it and added that sometimes bold moves had to be made for the smooth functioning of the CMC. He went on to say that he was not responsible for discrepancies in charges for hoardings in the city.

CMC Opposition Leader Vasudeva Nanayakkara told The Sunday Times that he did not know how well-founded the charges against the council were but said those charges should be investigated to know the truth.

He said the council was to be suspended and charged that the CMC administration was inefficient and corrupt and full of bureaucracy and that ruling councillors were more concerned about their personal gains.

Mr. Nanayakkara said that as the Opposition in the CMC his group would assist in investigating the charges in whatever way possible and added some of those charges were a result of public complaints.

Deputy Chief Minister Nishantha Ranatunga said the CMC’s replies to the charges have yet to be received. Using the powers conferred to him under the 1991 Provincial Council Act the Chief Minister could suspend the CMC if he was not satisfied with the answers provided by the Mayor.

He can also appoint a commission headed by a retired High Court Judge to further investigate the charges and then dissolve the CMC if they are proved.

After suspending the council he also can appoint a special commissioner to run the council.