Owners of unutilised land within Colombo City to be fined

The Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) is to charge a fine from the owners of unutilised land within the Colombo City.

This was one of the major proposals of the CMC budget which was approved recently.

As per the budget the expected revenue for the year 2023 through this exercise is Rs. 12 billion.

JVP member of the council Hemantha Kumara Weerakoon raised a question at the last sessions and queried whether this proposal is practical.

An opposition member of the municipal council who did not wish to be named, alleged that some lands within the Colombo City including a plot attached to P. D. Sirisena Grounds down Sangaraja Mawatha are to be leased out to the private sector illegaly.

"Approval of the President, Subject Minister and the Western Province Governor is needed to lease out a land as per Section 35 and 37 of Municipal Ordinance," he said.

However as per the agreement with regard to land down Sangaraja Mawatha, CMC is able to acquire the land at any time if the other party violates the agreement.

In another development, the CMC budget was passed with 94 members voting in favour and six against. Some 19 members were absent during the time of voting. Ruling UNP, members supporting SJB, SLPP members voted in favour and JVP members voted against. (Yohan Perera)