• CMC’s past also to be placed under scrutiny 

The Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils (PC), and Local Government (LG) stated that a Presidential Commission of Inquiry (CoI) would soon be appointed to investigate large-scale corruption and fraud in LG institutions, including the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC).

A CoI is a formal and ad-hoc public inquiry established by the President to investigate and report on specific matters of public interest, administration, or conduct.

Speaking to The Daily Morning, the Deputy Minister of Public Administration, PCs, and LG, Prabha Ruwan Senarath said that the CoI would focus on large-scale fraud and corruption in its first phase. “There have been many instances of corruption and irregularities within LG institutions including the CMC. We have therefore planned to appoint a CoI to look into them. The President will appoint the CoI in the coming days."

PCs and LG bodies are expected to handle everyday public services such as maintaining roads, managing waste, and issuing permits. However, over the years, many of these institutions have been criticised for delays, poor management, and irregularities. There have been repeated calls to improve how they function and ensure that they are operated in a way that meets the expectations of the people that they serve.

Speaking to The Daily Morning on an earlier occasion, Senarath said that there was a clear need to address the corruption and fraud that had taken place in PCs and LG institutions in the past. At that time, he added that audit reports had also pointed to such issues, and that therefore, more related inquiries would need to be launched.