Mayor refuses to reveal CHOGM EXPENSES

The Colombo Mayor yesterday refused to reveal the total expenditure for the ongoing development work centered on the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) that is to be held in November.

However, CMC Treasurer K.D. Chithrapala said an exact figure could not be given until the end of November but said a whopping Rs. 800 million would be spent on construction work that was to take place in the future for the CHOGM.

Speaking at the General Meeting of the CMC, the Mayor dodged queries by several municipal council members on the expenditure and said many of the questions directed to him had no relevance to the upcoming meeting.

UPFA member, Mohamed Ramzi said many of the questions put forward by him and others were neglected by the Mayor. “Even though the Mayor’s attention is on the CHOGM, he has refused to answer any of the questions that we ask on the subject,” he said.

Chitrapala, said con- struction work at the Viharamahadevi Park would be completed by November 5 before the start of the meeting. The Treasurer said development of the park, which was closed for a month due to construction, was funded by the World Bank.

Last month the media reported the requests by the CMC for addi- tional funds from the Ministry of Defence and Urban Development to build bus stands in the city were rejected.