Our Colombo Will Be
I thank the many concerned citizens who provided valuable comments at meetings and through multiple media that have helped us greatly improve this policy platform. I welcome additional input. While this document is final in the context of the Election, it can be further improved prior to the hoped-for adoption by the Colombo Municipal Council.
This is the Policy Platform of Milinda Moragoda, UPFA Candidate for Mayor. Please make comments, they will be read and incorporated into the final document.
Colombo belongs to all Sri Lankans as it is the principal city of our nation. It is my dream to develop Colombo into an exemplary city, one which will serve as a model for the rest of the country. I am confident that working together, we can improve the lives of our citizens. Colombo is a microcosm of the nation, with a rich and diverse population mix. I intend to work closely with all sectors of society and to have an inclusive approach to policy-making and implementation. I will bring in a professional and capable administration, which will help ensure that Colombo is a well-run and functioning city, and a place where citizens of all communities and backgrounds feel safe and protected, where people can live and work with dignity and in peaceful co-existence.
The LTTE terror threat stifled and distorted the natural development of the City and degraded the living conditions of all who live in it. With the elimination of the terror threat, the government commenced work on developing Colombo and the surrounding areas. You have seen the walls coming down and the dredging commenced. These momentous improvements require coordination of multiple government agencies and initiatives and the mobilization of resources from all levels of government and the corporate sector as well as from international sources.
Having the trust of key decision makers, I will work cooperatively with government agencies and higher levels of government, in particular those under the Ministry of Defence, to solve your problems and develop Colombo to its full potential. It is time for us to move beyond politics and to put our City first and to elect our leaders based on their abilities and commitment to society. For, it is only then that we can develop our City into a centre of excellence, which will bring benefits to all.
This policy programme is meant to be an evolving document. We will incorporate the ideas and suggestions of citizens whom we meet and interact with throughout the campaign. The programme will be finalized and issued with your input before the election. We will be reaching out directly as well through various social media platforms to engage with as many citizens as possible to hear their views.
Milinda Moragoda | Twitter | Facebook
tel: 011 4020635
office: 8/30 Siddhartha Road, Colombo 6
email: email@milinda.org
I hereby commit to: a CMC clean and efficient administration. All necessary steps will be taken to streamline the CMC administration and make it efficient and transparent. Rules will be clarified, reducing room for abuse of discretion. Reasons for decisions will be provided and citizens will have the right to appeal decisions. Procurement procedures will [...]
I hereby commit to: a CMC that places the emphasis on you the citizen We will ensure that front-office staff and field personnel will not only be cordial and friendly, but also discharge their duties with discipline and efficiency. I will establish a Municipal Call Centre modelled on the Government “1919” information call centre to better [...]
I hereby commit to: respect diversity and ensure co-existence. I will regularly consult with spiritual leaders of all religions to seek their advice on matters which may impact on their communities and to discuss any of their concerns. I will create mediation mechanisms to resolve difficulties among groups related to religious issues. If a translator [...]
I hereby commit to the Right to Information. The Right to Information is a key mechanism to ensure efficiency, transparency and accountability. It accords citizens the right to peruse any document pertaining to transactions entered into by the Council, be it a document pertaining to transactions entered into by the Council, be it in the [...]
I hereby commit to: participation of Civil Society in local governance. I will schedule regular open hours at the district offices so that you can have direct access to the Mayor and the relevant Municipal Councillors. I will establish non-partisan Community Development Committees at the neighborhood level to serve as the primary mechanism through which [...]
Through the above actions and with your active participation, I commit to make Colombo a Centre of Excellence. Outcomes will include: A liveable City – Better living conditions for tenement dwellers. It is vital that those whose livelihoods are located in the City also reside in the City. This is beneficial to both society and [...]
Outcomes will include: a flood-resilient City. The Government is taking urgent action to reduce the recurrence of floods in the City and suburbs. I will ensure that the CMC will work with citizens to identify local problem areas and devise remedies while collaborating with the Government to restore the canal system, increase catchments and implement [...]
Outcomes will include: a City that is easy to move around in. As befits a middle-income country, private vehicle ownership in the form of three wheelers, motor cycles and cars is increasing. As the road system is being reconfigured for increasing flows of traffic, the quality of life of those living in the City must [...]
Outcomes will include: a clean and healthy City. Good health is the greatest blessing. Health and poverty are intrinsically connected: poverty is both a cause and a consequence of poor health. Unhealthy living conditions, such as those found in the sub-standard housing the Government is determined to replace, have trapped some of our citizens in [...]
Outcomes will include: a safe and enjoyable City. While busy city streets and good street lighting help deter crime, a culture of dining out and entertainment creates jobs and helps make citizens feel connected to their City. The pent-up demand for outdoor recreation is evident in the public spaces opened up after the removal of [...]
Outcomes will include: a City that nurtures and fosters its Youth. I will develop a comprehensive programme to help the young people of Colombo between the ages of 18-28 to establish livelihoods that will include financial and technical assistance to help establish small businesses and develop the skills needed to find gainful employment. Paid work [...]
Outcomes will include: a City for the 21st Century. With the end to the war, there remains much work to be done to continue the development of Colombo. The process is already underway. However, it is only with a competent local administration which has the trust of all stakeholders in the City, from citizens of [...]
