Mechanical and Electrical Engineering services for the operational activities of the council are provided by the Municipal Workshop. Maintenance of vehicles and machinery, operation of street lights in the city and steel fabrication work are the main activities of the Municipal Workshop.

Equipment Secretariat headed by the Equipment Manager manages the fleet of vehicles and equipment.

Street lighting in the city is one of the important services provided by the council. Council has planned to convert all manual operated street lights to automatic switching with an aim of power saving and precise time operation. Another two pilot projects have been started to use solar powered street lamps at selected locations and installation of low power consuming LED lamps.

Technical Staff of the Municipal Workshop

TRAFFIC SECTION

The Traffic & Road Safety Division of the CMC is responsible for efficient management of road network & road furniture, facilitating the road safety and minimizing traffic floor in the city

1. Road Design
2. Intersection design
3. Traffic signal design, Installation & maintenance
4. Lane Marking
5. Identifying safe locations for Pedestrian Crossings ensuring safety of pedestrians & installation of pelican crossings, marking of pedestrian crossings etc.
6. Traffic studies
7. Traffic counting
8. Road furniture design, installation & maintenance
9. Road safety education
10. Street light design, installation & maintenance of a Part of the city
11. Designing of Road side parking, tendering & management
12. Private sector participation projects for traffic infrastructure implementation.
13. Preparation of project proposals for infrastructure development within the city for funding agencies.

STRUCTURAL DESIGN SECTION

The Structural Design Division manages the preparation of Working Structural Drawings, Bills of Quantities (BOQs) for construction services and provides construction inspection services for ongoing projects. The Design Division, Performs many services throughout the year as listed below.

1. Liaising of soil investigation
2. Structural designs of buildings
3. Service designs of buildings such as electrical, water supply, sewer etc.
4. Preparation of Bills of Quantities for new buildings, renovations and improvements
5. Preparation of specifications
6. Preparation of Departmental Estimates
7. Preparation of structural and service drawings.

ARCHITECTURAL SECTION

The Architectural Design Division manages production of Architectural Plans for buildings and landscaping services.

1. Site inspection
2. Preparations of conceptual plans
3. Building designing
4. Construction detailing
5. Assist Drafting
6. Check B.O.Q.s

IMPROVEMENTS OF PEDESTRIANS SAFETY BY INTRODUCING PELICAN SIGNALS WITH MODERN FACILITIES OF PEDESTRIAN DETECTIVE CAMERA, SIREN & COUNTDOWN FOR DISABLES PEOPLE

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Operation of Bus Priority Lane

Colombo Municipal Council is working with the Ministry of Megapolis and Western Development together with other stake holders such as University of Moratuwa, Road Development Authority, Sri Lanka Police, and Bus operating organizations in designing infrastructure for Bus Priority Lane Operation.

As the premier Local Authority of the area, it is our duty to facilitate such national requirements with the knowledge and capacities of the Engineers in Colombo Municipal Council.

The Bus priority lane operation was started on 15/08/2017. The implementation was done section by section for easy management. The road sections implemented during year 2017 are as follows.

• Moratuwa (Cross Junction) to Maliban Junction (Towards Colombo)
• Savoy Cinema– Pittala Handiya (Towards Colombo)
• Polduwa Junction to Ayurveda Junction (Towards Colombo)
• Independence Mawatha to Thunmulla Junction (Outwards Colombo)
• Fort to Slave Island (Outwards Colombo)
• Slave Island to Pettah (Towards Colombo)
• Borella Junction to Technical Junction (Towards Colombo)

Since the results from the post monitoring studies and the response from the bus travelers and Bus Operators are satisfactory, it is planned to extend this facility to following road sections in year 2018.

• Thunmulla Junction Albert Crescent (Museum) (Towards Colombo)
• Ingurukade Junction to Maradana Station (Towards Colombo)
• Technical Junction to Ingurukade Junction (Outwards Colombo)
• Rajagiriya Junction to Polduwa Junction (Outwards Colombo)
• Technical Junction to Borella Junction to (Towards Colombo)

All the design and construction works of the roads within CMC limits is being done by the CMC engineers and the workforce

Services provided by the City Planning Division

• Issuing of Street Line Certificates
• Issuing of Sub Division / Amalgamation Permits
• Issuing of Development Permit
• Renewal of Development Permits
• Issuing of Certificate of Conformity
• Issuing of Certified copies of approved Plans and Permits
• Issuing of Machinery Certificates

As per the delegated authority under the Urban Development Authority Law, the City Planning Division of Colombo Municipal Council processes development applications within the limits of Colombo Municipal Council area with effect from 01.02.2017

Authority for processing Development Permit and for issuing Certificate of Conformity is limited for developments for privately owned buildings which are up to 4 floors (ground + 3 floors), or floor area less than 4000 square feet.

Authority for Subdivision or Amalgamation of lands is limited for the extent of land areas less than 40 purchases.

Application Process

Flow charts of applying for a development permit, certificate of conformity, sub-division or amalgamation of land parcels and documents required for such applications are listed to guide the developers.

Downloads

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Contact Details

Duties and Responsibilities of Works Division

• Rehabilitation and maintenance of the entire public road network within the city of Colombo except Base Line Road, W.A. Silva Mawatha, Marine Drive, Cotta Road, Thimbirigasyaya Road (from Jawatta Road to Baseline Road) and Castle street section in front of Castle hospital which are managed by the Road Development Authority.
• Maintenance of all the council buildings, playgrounds and the common areas within the city of Colombo.
• Carrying out roads and buildings projects under decentralized budget through Hon. members of parliament, provincial council and other government agencies.
• Upgrading the public amenities, access roads of the underserved settlements utilizing funds allocated for Hon. members of the council.
• Removal and prevention of unauthorized structures within the state lands, Colombo Municipal Council lands and road reservations.
• Development of private roads on payment as per the requests by the residents living in the private roads.
• Carrying out the laboratory testing and quality assurance of the construction activities done by the other units of the division and other divisions.
• Issuing of road excavation permits for all the utility agencies in order to carry out their augmentation projects, routine maintenance activities, emergency breakdowns and water leaks …etc.
• Maintenance of Public Toilets within the city of Colombo
• Assisting the disaster management activities during the disasters and currently Director Engineering (Works) is the main coordinator of CMC coordinator of the emergency response programme of the city in an event of a disaster..

Structure of Works Division

Projects Completed recently

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Kirula Road

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Park Road – Phase 1

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Thurstan Road

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Regal Terrace

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Overlaying Connecting roads of Galle Road & Marine Drive

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Asphalt Overlay at 1st Lane,
Kirillapone Mawatha

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Rehabilitation of Hector Kobbakaduwa

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Footwalks at Devanampiyatissa Mawatha

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Colour washing of town hall building

On Going Projects as at 08th March 2018

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Widening & Rehabilitation of D.M. Colambage Mawatha

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Rehabilitation of Dickmans Road

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Rehabilitation of High Level Road

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Colour Washing of Mayor’s Center

Special Projects by the Works Division

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St. Mary’s Reception Hall & Public Library

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Bonavista Welfare center and the playground with a pavilion

This building has constructed to provide the different services to the rate payers at one place. This consists of a dispensary, gymnasium, reading room, daycare center for differently abled children, computer room, a meeting point for elders, a play area for children and a playground with a pavilion …etc. This project has won the green award by the Green Building Council of Sri Lanka.

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Provision of Disabled facilities in footwalks

In order to improve the accessibility for the disabled community in public roads, an inspection was carried out to identify the locations to be improved. This inspection was carried out with wheel chair users and Baudhdhaloka Mawatha was selected as the Pilot project. It is planned to start the rectification works by 12th March 2018 in order to make the Baudhdhaloka Mawatha with more accessible.

Sub Divisions

Central Roads Maintenance Unit

Main Responsibility of this division is to maintain and rehabilitate the Main roads within the city of Colombo while improving the aesthetic appearance except the roads which are maintained by the Road Development Authority. The division is responsible in maintaining the above said roads minimizing the inconveniences to the motorists and pedestrians. Rehabilitation and improvement of selected roads are carried out by this division every year. This included the improvements to foot walks by laying new kerb lines, providing parking bays, providing underground ducts for future utility development projects, making overhead street light cables underground with the assistance of Ceylon Electricity Board, paving foot walks with different designs, landscaping … etc

In addition to the above main responsibility, issuing of road cutting permits for the utility agencies for their augmentation works and day to day service provisions, maintenance works and the emergency breakdowns. In this case, the division expects the fullest cooperation from the utility agencies to maintain a good road network within the city of Colombo. It is necessary to obtain the prior permission from this division for any kind of excavation work within the road network. Later the police permission should be grant by the customer. Though the permission is granted, it is necessary to inform this division about the exact date of excavation in order to reinstate immediately after the excavation.

Under this division there are 2 main depots which are located at Campbell Park, Borella and Rajamalwatta road, Mattakkuliya. All the work forces are stationed in these locations. Most of the works are done by direct labour and only some specialized jobs are outsourced by the division

This division is headed by a Deputy Director Engineering and there are 4 engineers in this division according to the newly approved cadre. The contact details are as follows:

Madampitiya Asphalt Plant and Yard

Madampitiya Depot was established in 1988 in order to construct asphalt paved roads in the city. It produces asphalt concrete and cement concrete paving slabs and other precast concrete road furniture necessary for highway construction work.

Some of its main functions are

• Production of Asphalt Concrete
• Laying of Asphalt Concrete in Colombo city roads and cold Asphalt milling.
• Production of Precast Concrete items
• Maintenance and repair of vehicles and machineries.
• Maintenance and Installation of electrical electronic systems.

As present two asphalt plants are operated and monthly average asphalt production is about 4000 Metric Tons. Out of this monthly production about 3000 Metric Tons are laid in the city roads by the laying gangs of the Depot. The balance quantity of the production is used by other road maintenance gangs of the division.

The monthly Precast Concrete production is about 4000 Nos of items including hume pipes, road kerbs, reinforced concrete culvert slabs, paving slabs, gully covers, guard posts, flower pots, flag kerbs, compost bin etc.

This division is headed by a Deputy Director Engineering and there are 3 engineers working in this division. The contact details are as follows:

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Material Laboratory

Materials laboratory is situated at Madampitiya was opened in 1988 in order to maintain the quality of the construction work carried out by the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC)

Main functions are

• Testing of materials supplied for producing asphalt
• Quality control of asphalt produced by CMC
• Field testing of asphalt Surfaces
• Quality control of precast concrete items
• Site investigation and field testing of construction work
• Testing of construction materials and product supplied to CMC
• Research & Development work related to the construction work ((Specially, for road construction work)

At present about 400 laboratory tests are done per month to control the quality of asphalt and precast items and other construction work carried out by CMC and contractors. Mainly these tests are related to asphalt concrete tests, Bitumen tests, Concrete tests, Thermo Plastic test and research & Development work related to the construction work etc.

This division is headed by a Deputy Director Engineering and the contact details are as follows:

Engineer (Materials) – Vacant

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Sieve Analysis of Aggregate

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California Bearing Ratio Test

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Curing of Concrete Cubes

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Compression test

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Collecting Hot bin Samples

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Marshall test

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Bitumen Extraction Test

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Casting Concrete Cubes

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Specific Gravity Test

District Offices

The Colombo city is divided into 6 district in order to decentralize the day to day services to the rate payers. Mainly it is divided into North and South and are headed by 2 deputy directors engineering specifically for North and South. Under the each Deputy Director Engineering there are 3 district engineers who are in-charges of each district.

The main functions of the works section district offices are as follows:

• Rehabilitation and periodic maintenance of minor roads in the relevant district.
• Issuing of estimates and road excavation permits of the said roads
• Maintenance of the council buildings within the district area
• Implementation of the projects under the decentralized budget from members of parliament, western provincial council and other entities.
• Implementation of members’ allocation projects on buildings and common areas within the district boundary.
• Removing and preventing unauthorized structures.
• Maintenance of public conveniences in the area.

Maps of the district office boundaries

a) Colombo North

District Engineers of District 1, 2A and 2B are directly reporting to the deputy director Engineering (Works) North.

District Office 1 District Office 2A District Office 2B

b) Colombo South

District Engineers of District 3, 4 and 5 are directly reporting to the deputy director Engineering (Works) South.

District Office 3 District Office 4 District Office 5

ORGANIZATION STRUCTURE

Drainage Division

Drainage division has six district offices for operation and maintenance of sewerage system and storm water lines in the city of Colombo. The six District Engineers (Drainage) are responsible for the routine maintenance of sewerage and storm water lines in their respective districts.

Duties of District Engineers

Sewer lines

01. Receiving complaints from citizens in their respective districts and attending to them.

02. Carrying out preventive maintenance.

03. Attending to the breakdowns of sewer lines.

04. Attending to the minor constructions of sewer lines

Storm Water lines / open drains

1. Attending to periodic cleaning of gullies and storm water lines.
2. Attending to minor constructions of drains

CANAL NETWORK

DISTRICT 1

DISTRICT 2A

DISTRICT 2B

DISTRICT 4

DISTRICT 5

Water Supply Division

The main activities of the Water supply Division of Colombo municipality are,

1. Supply of water, by tanks and bowsers, when necessary
2. Maintenance of water services lines

Supply of water tanks and water bowsers

• For state functions
• For religious ceromonies
• For sports events

Maintenance of water service lines in

• Municipal Council buildings, such as
  1. Office buildings
  2. Dispensaries & Maternity Homes
  3. Markets etc;
• Municipal Council parks

Sewerage Pumping Stations

Colombo Municipal Council

The sewerage system of the Colombo city is operated by the Water Supply and Drainage Division of the Colombo Municipal Council. This system consists with 15 nos of sewerage pumping stations working continuously, which collect the residential and industrial waste water and, pump out to the deep sea by two sea outfalls.

Sewerage pumping station network of Colombo City

• Over 80% of the city is covered with a sewerage network constructed in the year 1902
• Over 250Km of gravity lines are collected at 15 pumping stations
• 15 pumping stations are connected with a network of force mains to take sewerage to two sea outfalls
• Both outfalls are gravity type fitted with diffusers to achieve adequate dilution, and transport sewerage to the deep sea

Drainage House Connection Unit

Drainage house connection unit of the Colombo Municipal Council is the authorized party for new house connections in sewered areas within the Colombo Municipal Council limits. There are about eighty registered drainage contractors who have authority to carry out drainge connections. The main task of this unit is to authorize the property connections to main public sewer. Unsewered areas are mainly depending on septic tanks and soakage pits. It is the responsibility of this unit to facilitate the resident in the Colombo Municipal Council city limit by providing the maintenance and disposal of sewer and strom water drainage.

House Connection Unit

Drainage and Storm Water Clearance

• Subdivision amalgamation and Buliding Plans
• Detailing only

House Connection Work

• New house connection
• Repair work

Issuance of Clearances for Sub Division /Amalgamation and Building Plans

One of the clearances to be obtained from CMC drainage division before submitting the building plan to planning division

Required the following documents

1. The dully filled application form
2. Original copy of the related survey plan
• Original (6 Copies)
• Photo copies ( 06 Copies)
• Scale 1 : 1000 or 1 chain to 1 inch
  or Building Plan 07 copies
3. Request letter
4. Application processing fee receipt (Rs 200 + Taxes)

Obtaining new water/ storm water connection or Repair / re-lay existing water/ storm water connection

Required documents

1. The dully filled application form submit through a registered CMC contractor in triplicate
2. Approved building plan
3. Development permit
4. Water sanction letter
5. Recently paid water/ electricity bill
6. Receipt application processing fee

ORGANIZATION STRUCTURE

Colombo Municipal Council – Solid Waste Management Division is full responsible for the collection, transport and disposal of the Municipal Waste with in Colombo City. Resident population of Colombo city is around 555,031 and collection of waste is around 500 MT per day. In addition to these an estimated six hundred thousand (600,000) people from various part of the Island coming to the City daily, for commercial, employment, school, hospital, tourism and other purposes. All of these people contribute to the Solid Waste Collected in Colombo City.

The Solid Waste Management division, being the pioneer institution introduced the best Solid Waste Management practices in Sri Lanka, has been adopting various methods and practices such as Recycling, Home composting, Eco-School project, Eco-Kiosk Centers for the implementation of 3R on Solid Waste and adopted to first ever Waste to Energy solution for the Solid Waste disposal problem in Sri Lanka. Household waste is collected free of charge from the citizens. However, a fee is charged for the collection of tree cuttings, debris and other non-hazardous Solid Waste. From Commercial establishments a trade refuse is charged for collection of commercial waste.

The Management unit is situated at the Town Hall and the solid waste management services is carried out through Director Engineering Solid Waste Management and appropriate Engineers and the collection is done through the Six District Offices as mentioned below.

Eco-kiosk Center (Recycling center)

CMC facilitate the residents to handover the recyclable waste directly to the Eco-kiosk Centers daily between 6.00am to 6.00 p.m

Projects under taken by SWM division

• Distribution of compost bins free of charge to the premises within municipal area on request.
• Distribution of Green bins (15l) free of charge in selected underserved settlements (Watte) to encourage source separation.
• Waste Market is conducted every month.
• Conducting awareness programs to General Public about Best practices on Solid Waste Management.
• Eco-School Project – promote 3R among school children and create awareness about Best practices on Solid Waste Management.
• Smart mobile application development
• Smart bin and Smart truck for waste collection
• CCTV installation and mobile CCTV implementation to reduce illegal disposal and littering.
• Bailing of Non-recyclable waste.
• Collected recyclable waste dispatched to Recyclers.
• Fixing of litter bins.

Waste to Energy Project

The first Waste to energy project has been inaugurated in Sri Lanka by Colombo Municipal Council. An Agreement has been signed between Colombo Municipal Council and Western Power Company (Pvt.) Ltd. to install commission and operate the Waste to Energy Plant at Kerawalapitiya. Solid waste is incinerated and converted in to Energy (10 MW), which is supplied to the national Grid. This is a historical moment to solve the long-standing issue of City’s waste disposal.

Issuance of approval and clearance for solid waste proposals in High rise buildings.

• SWM approval to be obtained prior to submitting the building application.
• SWM clearance to be obtained in order to obtain the C.O.C
• Before construction of any building; SWM approval should be obtained from this division. If violated, recommendation for C.O.C will not be issued for that development.

CMC has requested all premises to segregate the municipal waste at source into main two categories such as

1. Regular waste

I. Degradable waste (Organic waste)

II. Non-recyclable waste

2. Recyclable Waste

Recyclable waste will be collected ward wise on the days published via leaflets and boards displayed in the area.

Complaints

For any Solid Waste Collection issues/complaints in your area, please contact following offices directly.

Litterbin installations

Eco-Kiosk Centre

School Awareness Program

Institutional Awareness

Public Awareness

Street Drama

Waste Market

Road Sweeping

E-waste collection centres

Smart truck and Smart bins for waste collection

CCTV installation to eliminate illegal dumping

Waste to energy plant

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