I am referring to a recent letter to the editor by ‘Tax payer’. Indeed it is a welcome change to find a person astute and efficient as the New Special Commissioner at the helm of the Colombo Municipal Council. I had a novel experience just a few days ago when I rang him up to solve two environmental issues that I had for the last few years which the CMC higher authorities including the lady Commissioner could not solve. He asked me to come on the ‘public day’ so that he could call all officials and solve my problems. I was sceptical but my garbage and sewer problem made me go and stand in a queue close to noon thinking that by that time there wouldn’t be anyone else with complaints. But, there were at least twenty more waiting for their chance!

By 1.30 pm I was thinking that the Special Commissioner would go for lunch and it would be waste of time to wait any longer.  I could see the happy faces of those who left after meeting him and decided to stay on as he too waited on. I was with him only at 2.10 pm. The other officers also were waiting presumably without lunch. I explained to him my problem and he called the officials concerned gave orders and explained to them how the issues could be solved. I could see a change of attitude among the officers and think that they wanted to work with him more eagerly than in the past. In short, before the day was over action had been taken to remove the garbage which the neighbours had been piling next to my gate, warnings issued and the blocked gullies cleaned.

 I guess this is the change that we need in the city. A person with a big heart, knowledgeable and hardworking at the top of CMC to administer this city—a decaying city. We do not need corrupt politician back in the CMC again. Let’s hope that the Chief Minister will support this official to the hilt until things are put in order.