Colombo Mayor tells C.V. Wigneswaran:

Take the cue from me when developing Northern Province

Colombo Mayor A.J.M. Muzzammil said that Northern Province Chief Minister C.V. Wigneswaran should take the cue from him when developing the Northern Province.

The Mayor was speaking after handing over utility vehicles and machinery for the operation and maintenance of city infrastructure to the Colombo Municipal Council and vesting of public convenience complexes for the benefit of the people in the Colombo city.

The ceremony took place under the patronage of Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga and Defence and Urban Development Ministry Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa.

"The Chief Minister should solve political issues at a different forum," he said.

The Colombo Mayor said he brought massive development to the Colombo city by working closely with the central government.

"I did not pawn my political career to develop the Colombo city. I maintained a close rapport with the Government which immensely helped me to develop the city," he said.

These utility vehicles worth over Rs. 450 million were procured under the Metro Colombo Urban Development project which is funded by the World Bank.

The US$ 223 million project aims at controlling floods and improving priority infrastructure services. Muzzammil said that the Colombo Municipal Council has set an example to other government bodies by working with the government to develop the country.

He said that his close rapport with the Central government devoid of politics has brought much benefits to the Council and the people, at large.

He said other government bodies should take cue from this kind of cooperation.

World Bank Country Director Francoise Clottes, Metro Colombo Urban Development Project Director Rohan Seneviratne and Municipal Commissioner Badrani Jayawardena were also present.