REPORTS FROM THE ARCHITECT, ENGINEER AND OWNER OF PROPERTY

Construction of new buildings within CMC limits require:

The Colombo Municipality will require reports from the architect, engineer and owner of the property for new buildings that are to be constructed within its borders.

Municipal Commissioner V. K. A. Anura said the reports were compulsory to obtain approval for new constructions with updated reports to be submitted to the Municipality every three months during construction.

“The reports will be reviewed by a committee appointed specially for the purpose and approval will only be given after it is approved by the said committee. A team will also visit the construction site every three months for at least three years to ensure everything is up to standard,” he said.

The new system was put in place after the tragedy at Wellawatte where a building that was partially constructed collapsed killing one and injuring several others.

Anura said the Municipality could not take legal action against several under low quality constructions as they had already received the seal of approval from the municipality.

However, measures have been taken to inspect old buildings on the verge of collapse within the city. “If our team is of the opinion that a building should be demolished, after they have inspected it, we will inform the owner of our decision,” Anura explained.

If the owner of a building is unable to or unwilling to demolish the building at the time, a report need to be provided by an Engineer stating the length of time the building can remain as it is and the conditions for which it need not be demolished.

“If the building proves to be dangerous thereafter, the owner and the Engineer will be fined and measures will be taken to demolish the building legally, the cost of which would then have to be paid by the owner,” Anura explained.

There were at least 10,000 unauthorized constructions in Colombo city. Speaking to the Daily Mirror on a previous occasion, Anura stated that teams have been deployed to inspect buildings across the city, with reports of their findings to be submitted to the Urban Development Authority (UDA), the only institution with the power to take legal action against such constructions.

The reports will be reviewed by a committee appointed specially for the purpose and approval will only be given after it is approved by the said committee