Dr Sarath Obeysekera

OPEN LETTER TO THE MAYORESS AND TO AZAD ZALLI  FROM  AN OPPRESSED MOTORIST

Time 6 00 am Friday ,location near Galle face behind Taj hotel along road side parking area .

Parked the car near the parking area along the road with no police sign for no parking or board showing chargeable parking times , and went for a walk in Galle Face.

On my return I find this  person with a uniform ready to hand over a parking ticket .I looked at him  to see the a name of a private company written on it and his orange uniform with a badge of a company . I politely asked for his identication and authorization  to collect fee from drivers .He got agitated and pointed at the parking fee ticket and said This is my identification !”

Question is any Jack or Jill  ( somapla or Ahamed) can print parking ticket books and collect money any where ,any time in Sri Lanka claiming that drivers have to pay.

Some pay and take ticket and some  do not collect ticket and this scrupulous collector pockets the money. In other countries where parking is charged there is a board showing chargeable parking times.

This  follow standing there at 6 am trying to extract money is absolutely ripping off .

Mayoress should look into this and place boards to show free parking times .If CMC wants money they can appoint there stooges and give them an identification to show legitimacy

During Premadasa ‘s time Keselwatte unemployed women were given green jacket to collect money from 8 am till 6 pm may be and they had a badge and identification .

And now CMC is employing private companies to do the same .Poor women are out of a job .

This is Privatization in our country

Next time I will be more offensive and attract low enforcement to intervene .