Maharagama Urban Council

Maharagama Urban Council (Sinhala: මහරගම නගර සභාව, Tamil: மகாரகம நகர சபை) is the local authority for Maharagama and surrounding suburbs in Sri Lanka. The Council is responsible for providing a variety of local public services including public health and sanitation, road maintenance, garbage disposal, libraries, public parks and recreational facilities.

Maharagama Urban Council

  • මහරගම නගර සභාව  (Sinhala)
  • மகாரகம நகர சபை  (Tamil)
Seal of the Maharagama Urban Council
Type
Type
Local Authority
Term limits
4 years
History
Founded1963 (1963)[1]
Leadership
Tiraj Piyaratne, Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna
since 26 March 2018
Seats22[2]
Elections
Last election
10 February 2018
Next election
2022
Motto
බහුජන හිතාය බහුජන සුඛාය
Meeting place
Maharagama Urban Council building, Highlevel Road, Maharagama, Sri Lanka
Website
Maharagama Urban Council

The aims of the council as stated on their website are:

It is the responsibility and role of our local government body to provide the highest level of service that satisfies the people. Our objective is to improve the living standards of our people and their physical environment by providing the infrastructure needed to achieve the aspirations for the well-being of the local people and to enhance the regional economic development through balanced and sustainable development.

History

The Maharagama local body was established in 1963 with an area of only 5 km2 (1.9 sq mi). In 1988 this was expanded to 21 km2 (8.1 sq mi) and the body was upgraded to Pradeshiya Sabha status.[3]

On 10 January 2002, the Maharagama Urban Council was gazetted by Alick Aluwihare, as Minister of Local Government. Accordingly, the Urban Council was granted jurisdiction over 41 Grama Niladhari divisions. The tenure of the first council began on 15 April 2002.[3]

Geography

Maharagama Urban Council is situated in Colombo District, about 16 km (9.9 mi) south east of Colombo. It is 21 km2 (8.1 sq mi) in extent, and bordered by the Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte Municipal Council to the north and north west, Homagama to the east, Kesbewa Urban Council to the south and Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia Municipal Council to the west.[3]

Wards

For electoral and administrative purposes, the Council is divided into 25 wards.[4]

Grama Niladhari Divisions

The council comprises 41 Grama Niladhari Divisions[5]

Demographics

In 2014, the population was 202,557 and the council collected taxes from 77,740 properties.[3]

Services

Health and Sanitation

The council provides the following Health and Sanitation related services:[6]

  • Garbage collection and waste Management
  • Issuing/renewal of environmental licenses
  • Provision of Gully Bowsers for cleaning wastewater
  • Provision of Ayurvedic and Dental care

Revenue

The council provides the following certificates and licenses:[6]

  • Non-Acquisition Certificate
  • Trade License
  • Club License
  • Bicycle License
  • Entertainment Show License

Other revenue generation activities:

  • Collection of council rates
  • Tax for industry / businesses
  • Leasing out advertising hoardings
  • Reservation of community halls and playgrounds
  • Allocations of crematorium time slots and cemetery burial lots

The council maintains 9 crematoriums.[6]

Building and Industries

The council is in charge of regulating the built environment under its jurisdiction:[6]

  • Approvals for the subdivision of land
  • Approval of building plans and boundary/retaining wall designs
  • Issuance of Certificates of Conformity
  • Receiving complaints regarding approvals and dangerous trees

Libraries

The council maintains 4 public libraries, and provides the following services:[6]

  • Running 4 libraries:
  1. Main Library, Maharagama
  2. Rukmale Library
  3. Madiwela Library
  4. Kottawa Kulasevana Library
  • Granting of Library membership
  • Mobile Library Services
  • Renewal of membership
  • Providing space for scholarship and studies.

Other Services

The council also provides the following services:[6]

  • Maintenance of community halls and conducting community training programs
  • Running 4 preschools:
  1. Maharagama
  2. Rukmalgama
  3. Mirihana
  4. Delgahawatta

See also

References
  1. "ආයුබෝවන්". Maharagama Urban Council - Sri Lanka. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
  2. "Local government". Ministry of Local Government & Provincial Councils. Ministry of Local Government & Provincial Councils. Archived from the original on 20 December 2014. Retrieved 5 December 2014.
  3. "ඉතිහාසය". Maharagama Urban Council - Sri Lanka. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
  4. "Ward Map of Maharagama Urban Council - Colombo District" (PDF). Survey Department of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
  5. "GN Divisions". Divisional Secretariat - Maharagama. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
  6. "සේවාවන්". Maharagama Urban Council - Sri Lanka. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
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