Motorists in Colombo are facing increasing difficulties due to a surge in unauthorised parking tickets issued by individuals posing as official parking wardens.

At present, many unsuspecting drivers have been forced to pay excessive fees, often unsure whether these charges are legitimate or part of a growing scam. The confusion has left the public frustrated and vulnerable, raising concerns about the lack of proper enforcement and regulation.

CMC’s Tenaga experiment

The Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) oversees approximately 7,000 parking spaces across Colombo, a critical resource in a city where parking demand often outstrips supply. Prior to 2010, parking operations were managed directly by the CMC using its own employees.

However, staffing shortages and the inability to recruit additional personnel led to the outsourcing of parking management to private companies. Since then, parking operations have been handled by private firms selected through a competitive tender process. 

These companies pay a rental fee to the CMC based on their bids, which are evaluated and approved by the council. The parking fees themselves are regulated through a gazette notification issued by the CMC, ensuring transparency and consistency.

In a bid to modernise parking management, the CMC previously partnered with Tenaga, a company that introduced Sri Lanka’s first software-based parking management solution. While the system was technically sound and initially successful, it ultimately failed due to unrealistic revenue projections and low public adoption of digital payment methods. 

Currently, the CMC operates under a revenue-sharing model with private operators, who pay a fixed monthly rental based on their assessment of a parking area’s profitability.

CMC Traffic Design and Road Safety Division Director of Engineering Eng. P.A. Chandrapala told The Sunday Morning that the public was not yet accustomed to app-based and machine-based payments, leading to financial difficulties for Tenaga and the eventual termination of the contract. Despite this setback, the experience provided valuable lessons for future initiatives.

However, Eng. Chandrapala indicated that a full-scale Public-Private Partnership (PPP) could be considered in the future, possibly within four to five years. “Such a partnership would allow for the introduction of advanced technologies and greater private sector involvement, further enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of parking management in Colombo,” he said.

Smart parking initiative

Building on the lessons learnt from the Tenaga project, the CMC is now working on a new smart parking initiative aimed at enhancing transparency, reducing corruption, and improving the overall parking experience.

“The preliminary phase will be initiated within six months. This will include technical recognition, documentation, and identification of experts who can be admitted to the board. 

“After this preliminary phase, we will be ready to move to smarter options of parking management. We will then be able to make procurement arrangements and adopt a feasible smart system. 

“Full implementation will take longer due to necessary IT infrastructure development and integration. We can expect full implementation in about two years,” Eng. Chandrapala said.

The upcoming smart parking system will use electronic devices to detect parked vehicles, feeding real-time data into a centralised platform. Drivers will be required to make payments based on the system’s records, ensuring accuracy and compliance. Eng. Chandrapala highlighted that the system would incorporate multiple detection attempts to address potential issues, such as obscured number plates, ensuring that no vehicle went unnoticed.

The Government, particularly the Ministry of Digital Economy, will play a crucial role in facilitating this initiative. Additionally, the Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA) is expected to provide support, leveraging its expertise in digital transformation.

Eng. Chandrapala added: “The journey towards smart parking is not just about technology; it’s about creating a system that works for everyone – drivers, residents, and the city as a whole.” With the support of the Government, private sector, and the public, the CMC is paving the way for a smarter, safer, and more efficient Colombo.

Flexible parking charges

Eng. Chandrapala further explained that the current parking charges varied depending on the type of vehicle. 

For instance, lorries and buses are charged Rs. 100 per hour, while other vehicles may have different rates. These charges are prominently displayed on signboards at parking locations, ensuring that drivers are aware of the costs before they park. 

“We earn an estimated revenue of Rs. 30 million per month outsourcing parking operations. However, in times of calamity, such as Covid-19, we may not compel payments,” he said.

Specific parking zones are designated within hospital and school boundaries, with display boards indicating whether charges apply in these areas. Eng. Chandrapala emphasised that vehicles parking along the boundaries of hospitals or schools where parking boards were displayed would be exempt from parking charges during specific times.

Additionally, the CMC has introduced a 10-minute free parking period to accommodate shorter stops. Drivers are required to obtain a ticket marking their entry time upon arrival. If they leave within 10 minutes, no charge is incurred. Parking wardens verify these details manually, ensuring that drivers are not unfairly charged for brief stops.

Countering fraud

Meanwhile, CMC Traffic Design and Road Safety Division Deputy Director of Engineering Eng. Manjula Kularathna revealed that the new system would minimise cash transactions by promoting virtual payments, a move that aligned with the global trend toward digitisation. However, recognising that digital adoption is still progressing, the implementation will be phased to ensure a smooth transition.

Eng. Kularathna explained that parking was chargeable from 6 a.m. to 12 a.m. (midnight). “Parking is not chargeable on public holidays. Likewise, parking near hospitals during hours of visitation (12-1 p.m. and 5-6 p.m.) and near schools during opening and closing hours is also not chargeable,” he said.

One of the key challenges in parking management is ensuring that only authorised personnel are collecting fees. 

“Parking wardens wear uniforms authorised by the CMC and carry official identification cards issued by the council. These IDs cannot be self-generated by the private operators and the CMC conducts regular checks to ensure compliance. This system helps prevent unauthorised individuals from imposing illegal parking charges, a common issue in many urban areas,” Eng. Kularathna said.

According to him, if persons claiming to be parking wardens are not attired in the approved uniform or lack authorised identification cards, there is no necessity to pay them. 

“If there are frauds in the guise of parking wardens, you do not have to pay them. However, these parking zones have been demarcated by signs marking the rates and these places have been awarded to companies through a tender process. Therefore, it is their responsibility,” he said.

He also stated that the parking ticket must be issued at the time of arrival. “The parking time must be marked and if the person is absent, the ticket can be left on the windscreen. If the parking warden is absent, he is to mark the time of his arrival during the chargeable times of parking and mark the time of departure,” he said.

In the event of complaints or violation of consumer rights, the CMC hotline (011-2698529) could be contacted or an email could be forwarded to the CMC, Eng. Kularathna added. 

Police stance 

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) and Police Media Spokesperson Buddhika Manatunga issued a stern warning against unauthorised individuals charging fees for parking in Colombo, emphasising that such acts constituted a criminal offence. Speaking on the issue of illegal parking charges, he urged the public to report violations, assuring that the Police would take immediate action upon receiving complaints.

“If unauthorised persons are charging for parking, then it is a criminal offence. If somebody complains, we will definitely act on it,” he stated. He further explained that the CMC had established specific procedures for parking management, with any deviation from these guidelines being considered both a criminal offence and an act of corruption.

However, Manatunga highlighted the challenges faced by law enforcement in monitoring all parking lots across the city. “We are unable to individually visit all the parking lots and monitor them to determine if parking duties are conducted properly. We have only 5,000 Police officers in Colombo and there are many duties entrusted to us. We must prevent corrupt practices, stop crime, manage traffic, and so much more. Therefore, we cannot monitor everything, but if somebody makes a complaint, we can take action on that basis.”

Clarifying the legal boundaries regarding parking disputes, Manatunga noted that if a vehicle owner parked in a designated area but refused to pay the required fee, it did not qualify as a criminal offence. Instead, such matters fall under the jurisdiction of the CMC. 

The Police Spokesperson urged citizens to report any instances of unauthorised parking charges or corrupt practices to the relevant authorities, ensuring that such violations were promptly addressed and eradicated.