CMC member files petition against agreement on smart LED lamp project

Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) member Sharmila Gonawela has filed a petition against the CMC over the agreement signed for the smart LED lamp post project at the Supreme Court yesterday (Aug 13).

Issuing a statement, Ms Gonawela stated that the 20-year agreement signed between the CMC and a private company for the project would cause potential losses upto Rs 3.7 billion to the local authority.

She claimed that the agreement has posed a risk to the personal lives of the people since it has vested complete authority with the private company to sell data accumulated on some 200 CCTV cameras which were expected to be installed in these lamp posts.

The smart lamp posts were expected to be equipped with CCTV cameras and a charging port for electric vehicles, along with WiFi and Bluetooth facilities. 

According to the agreement, the CMC has to incur expenses of the project for the first three years, although tender notices for the project stated that the CMC will not have to bear any cost for the project, Ms. Gonawela pointed out.

The petitioner also noted that the agreement allows the private company to utilise certain assets of the CMC including its buildings for the project.