A Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) employee has been found running an unauthorized funeral parlour on official municipal property within the Borella Cemetery, as revealed during a recent Committee on Public Accounts (COPA) hearing.
The investigation, conducted under the chairmanship of MP Aravinda Senaratne, uncovered that the employee had been operating the business illegally since 1994 using an official residence and land belonging to the CMC. Despite prior orders to reclaim the land, no action had been taken, and the employee had continued operations without proper permits.
Further revelations at the hearing exposed that the individual had even attempted to forge documents to claim ownership of the land but was unsuccessful. The former Municipal Commissioner testified that her efforts to address the matter had led to threats against her life.
COPA ordered the immediate closure of the illegal business and called for an in-depth investigation into the misuse of public property. The committee also raised concerns over how such an operation continued for decades without environmental clearance or legal registration.
Authorities have been instructed to submit a report within two weeks, outlining actions taken to reclaim the land and prevent similar incidents in the future. (Islandnews)
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