CMC Mayor replies; I have done nothing wrong
by Deepal Warnakulasuriya
Colombo Municipal Council Mayor, Uvais Mohamed Imithiyas had
forwarded his reply to the Western Province Chief Minister Reginald
Cooray last Friday. He told the Sunday Observer that he had done nothing
wrong and therefore there was nothing to worry.
The Mayor's reply comprised 15 pages with two attachments. He said
the allegations against the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) were
rejected by him. He replied to the charge sheet since the Chief Minister
requested him to do so.
The allegations made against the CMC included violation of the tender
procedure in waste and garbage management, purchasing roofing sheets
against the tender board decisions, spending MCs (public) money on a
private vehicle park and distributing sewing machines and galvanised
sheets.
Mayor Imithiyas said that he would not suspend work of the MC at this
point of time as he is ready to accept the leadership of the Chief
Minister Reginald Cooray and Governor Alavi Moulana.
He said President Mahinda Rajapaksa had assured him that the MC would
not be suspended. He accused the UNP and its former Deputy Mayor Azath
Sally for creating this problem. Chief Minister Cooray has not commented
on the Mayor's reply.
The Sunday Observer learns that the Mayor has not taken the
responsibility of answering three questions saying they were typing
errors. Replying to the fourth allegation of the CM he said that the
"Sewing machines to be given to the councillors" should be changed as
"sewing machines to be distributed among low income family women under
the directive of the councillors".
The same answer was given for the sixth and seventh allegations of
roofing sheets and galvanised sheets by the Mayor. According to the
reply the roofing sheets and galvanised sheets are to be distributed
among low income families under the directive of the Council members and
not to be given to the council members as the charge sheet says.
The Mayor said that he will accept the decision taken after going
through the reply sheet.
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