The government has decided to appoint a town planner to every municipal and urban council from February 2008, said Willie Mendis, a senior town planner.
"There'll be town planning offices in every municipal and urban council," he told a news conference, held to highlight the work of town planners.
"Town planners play a very critical role. They complement the services of local councils in controlling public health and utilities and approving infrastructure.
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Mendis said many buildings in Colombo were unauthorised owing to the acute shortage of town planners and delays in giving approvals.
"There are only two town planners in the Colombo municipal council. But it gets 60 building applications a day.
So it's not surprising that problems crop up," Mendis said. "This is the reaso