Maharagama Urban Council

Maharagama Urban Council (මහරගම නගර සභාව, மகாரகம நகர சபை) is the local authority for Maharagama and surrounding suburbs in Sri Lanka. The Council is responsible for providing a variety of local public services including public health and sanitation, road maintenance, garbage disposal, libraries, public parks and recreational facilities. The stated goals of the council include providing infrastructure needs, and enhancing regional economic development in a sustainable manner.

History
The Maharagama local body was established in 1963 with an area of only 5 km2. In 1988 this was expanded to 21 km2 and the body was upgraded to Pradeshiya Sabha status.

On 10 January 2002, the Maharagama Urban Council was gazetted by Alick Aluwihare, as Minister of Local Government. Accordingly, the Urban Council was granted jurisdiction over 41 Grama Niladhari divisions. The tenure of the first council began on 15 April 2002.

Geography
Maharagama Urban Council is situated in Colombo District, about 16 km south east of Colombo. It is 21 km2 in extent, and bordered by the Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte Municipal Council to the north and north west, Homagama to the east, Kesbewa Urban Council to the south and Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia Municipal Council to the west.

Wards
For electoral and administrative purposes, the Council is divided into 25 wards.

1. Mirihana South

2. Mirihana North

3. Madiwela

4. Pragathipura

5. Udahamulla

6. Thalapathpitiya

7. Pamunuwa

8. Thalawathugoda

9. Kalalgoda

10. Depanama

1. Kottawa West

2. Kottawa East

3. Rukmale

4. Makumbura

5. Kottawa South

6. Kottawa Town

7. Pannipitiya

8. Maharagama South

9. Maharagama North

10. Pathiragoda

1. Navinna

2. Gangodavila

3. Wattegedara

4. Godigamuwa North

5. Godigamuwa South

Grama Niladhari Divisions
The council comprises 41 Grama Niladhari Divisions

1. Kalalgoda

2. Thalawathugoda West

3. Thalawathugoda East

4. Kottawa South

5. Kottawa East

6. Kottawa City

7. Kottawa North

8. Kottawa West

9. Liyanagoda

10. Rukmale West

1. Rukmale East (497A)

2. Rukmale East (497B)

3. Malapalla East

4. Makumbura North

5. Malapalla West

6. Makumbura South

7. Mirihana North

8. Mirihana South

9. Madiwela

10. Pragathipura

1. Thalapathpitiya

2. Udahamulla East

3. Udahamulla West

4. Gangodawila South

5. Wijerama

6. Jambugasmulla

7. Nawinna

8. Pathiragoda

9. Maharagama East

10. Maharagama West

1. Pamunuwa

2. Dambahena

3. Polwaththa

4. Depanama

5. Maharagama City

6. Pannipitiya North

7. Pannipitiya South

8. Godigamuwa North

9. Godigamuwa South (532A)

10. Godigamuwa South (532B)

11. Waththegedara

Demographics
In 2014, the population was 202,557 and the council collected taxes from 77,740 properties.

Health and Sanitation
The council provides the following Health and Sanitation related services:


 * Garbage collection and waste Management
 * Issuing/renewal of environmental licenses
 * Provision of Gully Bowsers for cleaning wastewater
 * Provision of Ayurvedic and Dental care

Revenue
The council provides the following certificates and licenses:


 * Non-Acquisition Certificate
 * Trade License
 * Club License
 * Bicycle License
 * Entertainment Show License

Other revenue generation activities:


 * Collection of council rates
 * Tax for industry / businesses
 * Leasing out advertising hoardings
 * Reservation of community halls and playgrounds
 * Allocations of crematorium time slots and cemetery burial lots

The council maintains 9 crematoriums.

Building and Industries
The council is in charge of regulating the built environment under its jurisdiction:


 * Approvals for the subdivision of land
 * Approval of building plans and boundary/retaining wall designs
 * Issuance of Certificates of Conformity
 * Receiving complaints regarding approvals and dangerous trees

Libraries
The council maintains 4 public libraries, and provides the following services:


 * Running 4 libraries:


 * 1) Main Library, Maharagama
 * 2) Rukmale Library
 * 3) Madiwela Library
 * 4) Kottawa Kulasevana Library


 * Granting of Library membership
 * Mobile Library Services
 * Renewal of membership
 * Providing space for scholarship and studies.

Other Services
The council also provides the following services:


 * Maintenance of community halls and conducting community training programs
 * Running 4 preschools:


 * 1) Maharagama
 * 2) Rukmalgama
 * 3) Mirihana
 * 4) Delgahawatta