60,000 complaints against parking meter charges

By Jayantha Samarakoon   

Colombo Municipal Council has received about 60,000 complaints regarding alleged unfair charges made by parking meters installed in certain areas in the Colombo city limits, Colombo Municipal Councillor Sumith Passaperuma said. 

He said this system of automatic charging was implemented along the Galle Road and by roads in 2015 but since it was met with many complaints related to unfair fines imposed, those fines were abolished in 2018 by the Colombo Mayor.   

“However, imposing of these fines has been resumed secretly,” Mr. Passaperuma said. Out of the many complaints, he said it is impossible to get the balance money after tendering required amount to the machine.  “Only 48% of the total income earned by this system is received by the Municipal Council,” Mr. Passaperuma said.