March 01, Colombo (LNW): An audit report presented at a Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) session has uncovered disturbing evidence of illegal transactions involving parking spaces designated for Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) members.
The findings, which were discussed under the chairmanship of MP Aravinda Senaratne, revealed that parking slots initially allocated for CMC members’ vehicles had been unlawfully sold to private individuals and entities, raising concerns about mismanagement and corruption within the CMC.
The audit brought to light that land meant to serve as parking for municipal council members had been diverted for private use, with no proper authorisation or oversight.
This discovery has raised serious questions about the internal controls within the CMC and the lack of accountability in managing municipal assets.
Further investigation into the financial aspects of the CMC’s parking revenue revealed that contractors tasked with overseeing parking operations had accumulated a staggering Rs. 580 million in unpaid arrears to the council.
Despite the significant amount owed, municipal authorities assured that efforts were underway to recover the overdue payments.
Furthermore, they announced that contractors with outstanding debts would be barred from participating in future tenders for municipal contracts.
In light of these revelations, COPA has ordered an immediate investigation into the individuals involved in the illicit sale of parking spaces.
The committee has also instructed officials to explore legal avenues to reclaim the municipal property that has been unlawfully transferred, ensuring that proper procedures are followed in the future.
