Mayor bypassed; commissioner grumbles over water, electricity bills

Colombo's Mayor A.J.M. Muzammil is highly perturbed that he has been bypassed by Municipal Commissioner Badrani Jayewardene in calling a meeting with members of the armed forces to canvass financial support from several private companies to beautify the Galle Road stretch between Temple Trees at Kollupitiya and the President’s House in Colombo Fort.

At the meeting, the Commissioner had estimated the cost for flower pots and other landscaping material at around Rs. 1.2 million. Six companies are to be selected as sponsors for this project which is to be undertaken by the security forces.

The Mayor said a proper procedure should have followed with the council holding a meeting with the companies concerned.

Meanwhile the Commissioner has written to the Mayor asking that the water and electricity bills at her official residence be settled by the council. In a letter she has asked that she be given the same concessions as given to the Mayor whose water and electricity bill are paid by the CMC. She says there are six employees, including two security personnel, who work in rotation at her residence. One employee looks after maintenance and another cleans drains. There are also two drivers. She has said she has been settling the utility bills from her private funds.

She adds that the water bills are high due to water being used for gardening work while due to security reasons the lights are on all night and hence the electricity bills are also high. The Commissioner says there are four members of her family as well and she is unable to settle the soaring bills anymore.