Trade Licence within 26 days- CMC

 
       
The Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) yesterday announced that it will be reducing the number of days which takes to issue a trade licence to a minimum of 26.

Addressing the media Colombo Municipal Commissioner Bhadrani Jayawardane stated that it is the duty and responsibility of the CMC Treasury to issue trade licences but that it has been tedious for local as well as foreign investors to commence businesses in Colombo. “So we have taken up a programme to reduce the time consumed for the issue of trade licenses especially for the medical and construction sectors,” she revealed.

She further claimed that before this the applicant had to go to different departments in order to get certified and then come to the CMC Treasury. Adding to her comments CMC Treasurer W.A. Ariyadasa (Finance and Administration) revealed that it takes 5-6months to issue the trade licences since there has been a decline in businessmen to obtain licences.

“The International Finance Corporation (IFC) noted this and pointed out to the CMC that due to the time consuming process of obtaining licences, foreign investors have shown a decline in interest to invest in Sri Lanka,” he affirmed.

He divulged that previously the applicant had to go to the Planning Department, Health Department, Fire Department and finally the CMC Treasury to get the 4 required recommendations for the issuing of the license but they only have to come to the CMC. Ariyadasa confirmed that the licence will be issued within 26 days and sometimes even before that when the businessmen give the necessary finances for the licence.

While stating that there could be a delay if the establishment does not meet the vital requirements Commissioner Jayawardane explained that the CMC only wants to enhance the convenience of the system and by doing so increase the inflow of potential investments.