The Hon. Governor of the Northern Province, N. Vethanayahan, directed local authorities to prohibit commercial activities in institutions operating for business purposes without obtaining a Certificate of Conformity (COC) or compliance certificate despite applying for building permits. He noted that the failure to obtain a COC compromises the safety of the buildings and prevents local authorities from collecting taxes, leading to revenue losses. This measure has been initiated to address these issues.
The monthly discussion to review the financial and physical progress of projects implemented this year under the Ministries of Finance and Planning, Law and Order, Land, Power, Housing and Construction, Tourism, Local Government, Provincial Administration, Rural Development, Road Development, Motor Traffic, and Transport was held today, Friday (10.10.2025), at the Governor’s Secretariat under the chairmanship of the Hon. Governor of the Northern Province, N. Vethanayahan. Additionally, a monthly discussion with the secretaries of local authorities was also conducted.
Speaking at the event, the Governor requested that projects be completed before the onset of the monsoon season, expected to begin on the 23rd of this month. He further advised that, given the forecast of heavy rainfall within a shorter period this time, areas prone to flooding in the past should be identified, and measures should be taken to mitigate such impacts this time.
The Governor also urged that if there are any deficiencies in the documents submitted with applications from the public, instead of keeping the applications pending, immediate contact should be made with the relevant individuals to obtain the required documents and expedite the processing of applications.
Addressing the growing challenge of waste management, the Governor instructed officials to study the feasibility of implementing a project similar to the power generation plants established by the Colombo Municipal Council, which generate electricity from waste materials, by visiting those facilities.
Furthermore, the Governor directed local authorities to take steps to install CCTV cameras to monitor illegal waste dumping within their jurisdictions. The Secretary of the Nallur Pradeshiya Sabha reported that they have already installed CCTV cameras and are collecting fines through this system.
During today’s discussion, the progress of various projects under the Ministry of Local Government – Northern Province, the Department of Local Government – Northern Province, the Assistant Commissioners’ offices of Local Government in each district, the Provincial Department of Rural Development, the Provincial Road Development Department, the Provincial Motor Traffic Department, the Tourism Authority, and the Road Passenger Transport Authority was thoroughly reviewed. Discussions also covered delays in work by contractors in some areas.
The meeting was attended by the Secretary to the Governor of the Northern Province, the Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government, the Deputy Chief Secretary – Finance, the Deputy Chief Secretary – Engineering Services, the Director of the Department of Buildings, Provincial Directors, and Secretaries of Local Authorities.
