Rate payers will soon have the facility to pay rates via the internet through the e-services programme to be launched today by the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC).

The Municipality said this would be an addition to the service payment schemes that they offered.  CMC Treasurer K. D. Chitrapala said residents would also be able to pay the rates and other taxes through the Dialog services.

Under the new programme rate payers could check their account balances, monitor past payments and due payments online. “We will give the discounts and other facilities that we offer through the internet services as well,” he said.

The project set up in collaboration with ICTA was funded by the World Bank, the Treasurer said.  “Rate payers can now use the debit and credit card facilities to pay their taxes and we will mail them the receipt soon after,” Chitrapala said.

He revealed that many of the residents chose to stand in long lines as they could not get the receipts through other easy payment schemes the municipality offered.  “This is just an extension of the services that we already offer,” he said.

The prgramme is to be launched by Minister of Local Government and Provincial Councils, A. L. M Athaullah and the Colombo Mayor A. J. M Muzammil.  
 Chitrapala said even though the programme would be launched tomorrow, rate payers would be able to use the facilities next week. (Nabeela Hussain and Chathushika Wijeyesinghe)