In Colombo, there are about 60 to 70 unauthorised buildings,” said Mr. Mendis, explaining that any building in a decrepit state would be given 14-day legal notice.

If the owner fails to comply, the CMC will take legal action at the Magistrate’s Court and demolish the structure, based on a court ruling, he said.

The same legal method is applied when dealing with dilapidated buildings. In accordance with the Municipal Councils Ordinance, the CMC is authorised to notify the owner of a “house, building, boundary wall, or gateway” (clause 66 of the Municipal Councils Ordinance) in a dilapidated state.

CMC Municipal Commissioner Bhadranie Jayawardhana, Chief Medical Officer of Health of the Curative Department Dr. Ruwan Wijemuni, and Director of City Planning Anuja Mendis explained the various levels of hazards and dangers posed by buildings prone to dilapidation.