The business houses in Dalada Veediya in cooperation with the KMC have launched an ambitious project to give a facelift to Dalada Veediya. As a first step sixty new streetlamp posts made to a design to match the culture and heritage of Kandy will be installed along the street. Already the first three have been installed. Deputy Mayor Suminda Wickremasinghe says that the task will be completed before this year's Perehera festival.

The Dalada Veediya Development Committee that functions under the auspicious of the newly formed Kandy Development Committee is implementing the project. The Chairman of Bake House Daya Weeraratne, chairs the Dalada Veediya Committee. Similar committees are also to be set up shortly for the other Kandy streets.

The Development Committee has opened a bank account at the Kandy People's Bank (account 003100130000618) and invites well-wishers to contribute to this worthy cause. Kandy business people who are willing to assist or play a role are invited to contact the Committee through the Central Province Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Non payment of taxes and dues impedes KMC

Several parties do not pay their financial dues to the KMC and that severely impedes the quantity and quality of services that the KMC is able to deliver to the Kandy community. About 20% of the property tax revenue due from business houses to KMC remains unpaid. The Central Provincial Council has held back as much as 29% of the annual Central Government Grant that the KMC has been allocated. The private operator that manages the KMC car park and collects revenue from street parking has accumulated about Rs 75 million in arrears. Even the 1% tax that tourist hotels and guest houses are supposed to pay the KMC is difficult to collect. These facts about the difficult revenue situation of the KMC were revealed when the KMC Development Committee held its inaugural meeting recently at the Council offices. Read More>>