Council has no right to collect fees: Ranaraja

Former Justice Deputy Minister Shelton Ranaraja appraised the Kandy Ratepayers’ Association Committee and Ratepayers’ Electoral Delegates’ meeting that the Kandy Municipal Council had no legal right to collect parking fees from vehicles, until and unless Parliament approves the collection.
He said that the Municipal Council had to first adopt a resolution seeking the Local Government Minister's approval and then parliamentary approval. He also quoted the relevant section of the Municipal Councils Ordinance.

The meeting was chaired by Association president Jayaratne Maliyagoda and the Car Park issue was debated for nearly four hours before coming to a final resolution to be forwarded to Kandy Mayor L.B. Aluvihare.

It was pointed out that the crux of the matter was the original agreement being violated and hence the Municipal authorities should take appropriate action to abrogate the agreement.

The Ratepayers’ also decided to meet the Mayor and appraise him regarding matters relating to the ancient city.