Maharagama Urban Council

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
Founded	1963; 62 years ago (1963)[1]
Leadership
Chairman	Tiraj Piyaratne, Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna since 26 March 2018
Seats	22[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

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. The stated goals of the council include providing infrastructure needs, and enhancing regional economic development in a sustainable manner.

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]

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]

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

The council comprises 41 Grama Niladhari Divisions^[5]

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

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

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]

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

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.

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

• Maharagama Divisional Secretariat
• Maharagama Polling Division

• Urban Development Authority - Maharagama Zoning Plan
• Ward Map of Maharagama Urban Council - Colombo District