Amendments to three key laws governing local authorities—the Municipal Councils Ordinance, the Urban Councils Ordinance and the Pradeshiya Sabhas Act—are now in their final stage, according to Deputy Minister of Provincial Councils and Local Government Ruwan Senarath.
The Deputy Minister also revealed that Cabinet approval had been granted to amend seven other laws related to local government bodies.
Accordingly, steps have been initiated to update legislation governing local authorities by removing outdated provisions and bringing the laws in line with present-day requirements.
Deputy Minister Senarath made these remarks while participating in a programme for officials of local government institutions held at the Malimbada Pradeshiya Sabha Auditorium in Matara District.
Local government institutions currently serve as the level of government closest to the people and are responsible for providing a wide range of public services and implementing development activities.
However, officials face various challenges in carrying out these responsibilities, particularly in relation to council administration, procurement procedures and legal matters.
The main objective of the workshop was therefore to identify such challenges and strengthen the knowledge, skills and professional capabilities of heads of institutions and officials to enable them to find lawful and practical solutions, according to the Ministry of Public Administration.
The programme focused on several key areas, including the conduct of council meetings and decision-making processes, implementation of council decisions, committee functions, principles and procedures relating to procurement, the powers and responsibilities of local government institutions, and the practical application of relevant laws and regulations.
The workshop also provided an opportunity for officials to engage in open discussions and exchange experiences concerning current administrative, legal and practical issues encountered in the day-to-day operation of local government institutions.
The initiative is expected to strengthen coordination among institutional heads and officials and improve the efficiency of public service delivery.
With the objective of ensuring efficient, transparent and lawful administration within local government institutions, the Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government has organized a special series of programmes featuring practical activities, mock council sessions, discussions and lectures.
The programme series is aimed at addressing the challenges currently faced by local government institutions and identifying practical solutions, with the participation of institutional heads and officials.
