Herold Leelawardena

Leave out the names andƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ acronyms; the governmentƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s move to put an end to theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Colombo Municipal Council is a good move. Just look at the comic opera that took place at its last election.

Due to some of their own blunders, theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ UNP was barred by election commissioner from contesting elections in 2006. So, the barred or rejected Mayoral candidate Sirisena Cooray sought to propel himself to power by proxy. With that as the sole aim, Cooray and the UNP hierarchy hastily chose an independent group with no political standing as their proxy.

The UNP told the affluent Colombo WOGS as well as the boorish slum dwellers to vote for that independent group. And all that rich Shylocks and the poor roughshods voted that independent group over the ruling party candidate Wasudeva Nanayakkara who is well known to have a mission to do good for the common man.

The unknown independent group won. And, UNP hierarchy got the leader of that independent group to nominate an unlettered three-wheeler driver namedƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Uvais Mohamed ImthiyazƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ as the mayor of our capital city, Colombo.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ UNPers thought illiterateƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Mohamed will be there only temporarilyƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ until they carry out their sting operation to put their man Sirisena Cooray at the helm.

Soon Mohamed Said Allah wished him to continue as the Mayor. And none could go against Allah. So, Mohamed had to go back on his agreement with the UNP.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ And the UNP bigwigs couldnƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢t do anything againstƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Mohamed either. Leave out Allah, his worship Mohamed had learned few tricks and a bit of jugglery during the two and half years of his rule. ButƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ for residents of Colombo and its visitorsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ things had gone from bad to worse.

The UNP had been ruling the Colombo Municipal Council for years. Deep rooted lethargy and corruption has been the hall mark of the CMC. Unauthorized structures were abound. Building plans that violate municipal by-laws were everywhere.ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Pavement hawkers that obstruct pedestrian walkwaysƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ were all over. Squalid kitchens and unhygienic eateries were all over the place.

Traffic congestion, proliferation of slums, unclean roads, ugly bill boards and etc has been an eye sores for its residents as well as its visitors. Frequent floods and blocked drains and stinking garbage heapsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ have become health hazards to those who pass by. WithƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ unletteredƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Mohamed becoming the Mayor, all kind of ineptitude started to multiply in the CMC in abundance. Dissolving the CMC and appointing a former mayor as the special commissioner only did a patch up job.

Most of the government officers, practically all good schools, the national hospital, the harbor, almost all prominent businesses and etc, etc are located in Colombo. Sri Lankan citizenry are not given a choice; whether they like it or not, they were compelled to spend at least some of their time in Colombo.

In such circumstances, Colombo is every Sri LankanƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s city not just of its residents. We cannot leave few selfish mansion dwellers and unfortunate slum occupants of Colombo to choose the fate of the capital city of Sri Lanka. The government is duty bound to clean up and beautify Colombo. It should have been a part of Mahinda Chintanaya. And to fulfill that endeavor, there is no better person than Gotabhaya Rajapakse.