# Maharagama Urban Council

Maharagama Urban Council (Sinhala: මහරගම නගර සභාව, Tamil: 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 km$^2$ (1.9 sq mi). In 1988 this was expanded to 21 km$^2$ (8.1 sq mi) 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 (9.9 mi) south east of Colombo. It is 21 km$^2$ (8.1 sq mi) 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.

### Grama Niladhari Divisions

The council comprises 41 Grama Niladhari Divisions

## Demographics

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

## Services
### 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:
* Main Library, Maharagama
* Rukmale Library
* Madiwela Library
* 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:
* Maharagama
* Rukmalgama
* Mirihana
* Delgahawatta