Heads of local bodies must show enhanced income before polls: Musthapha

All Municipal Commissioners and Secretaries of Urban Councils and Pradeshiya Sabhas must be prepared to hand over a better local government body after the forthcoming local government polls with an enhanced income and efficient management, Local Government and Provincial Councils Minister Faiszer Musthapha said yesterday.

Talking to a group of special commissioners and secretaries under whom the 335 local government bodies are now being being run, at his ministry, Minister Musthapha stressed that he was committed to conducting the local government polls at the first possible opportunity he gets after the delimitation committee report is received. “There have been various views expressed on conducting the local government polls. Everyone, including the members of the joint opposition and party leaders are well aware that the highly erroneous and extremely partial delimitation report prepared by the ‘National De Limitation Commission’ after the passing of the ‘Local Government Electoral Amendment Act in 2012, was the reason to delay the local government polls as all party leaders unanimously decided that local government polls cannot be conducted under the recommendations of this report. Then it is quite obvious that political party leaders, Elections Commissioner General, officials and voters must wait until those blunders are addressed. That is why I appointed the five member official committee representing all political parties, chaired by senior administrative officer Asoka Peiris to go into the grievances, discrepancies and errors made by the previous delimitation report. This committee has done a commendable job to the satisfaction of all stake holders and I am ready to start the process for local government polls soon after I get the delimitation report, most probably before the end of this month,” Minister Musthapha added.

Minister Musthapha said a majority of Municipalities, Urban Councils and Pradeshiya Sabhas have increased their income and improved the efficiency in their respective bodies.

For instance, the Moratuwa Municipal Council (MMC) has been able to increase its income dramatically from permits issued to display billboards by private sector establishments.

Musthapha stressed that he was committed to conducting the local government polls at the first possible opportunity he gets after the delimitation committee report is received This committee has done a commendable job to the satisfaction of all stake holders and I am ready to start the process for local government polls soon after I get the delimitation report