The Colombo Municipal Council is the municipal governing body of Colombo, the largest city and financial centre in Sri Lanka. It consists of a directly elected executive Mayor of Colombo, current elect is Rosy Senanayake, and 119 elected 119 municipal councilors. The council was formed in 1865, it first met in 1866 and derives most of its powers from Municipal Council Ordinance No. 29 of 1947. It is the oldest and the largest local government authority in Sri Lanka which covers a resident population of over 600,000 (as of 2001). It is one of the largest employers in the country with over 12,000 employees. Council Colombo is a charter city, with a Mayor Council form of government. Colombo's mayor and the council members are elected through local government elections held once in four years. It has 16 standing committees on various subjects. Officers The Colombo Municipal Council under the Municipal Council Ordinance have several elected and appointed officers. These are; Mayor Deputy Mayor Municipal Magistrate Municipal Commissioner Municipal Secretary Municipal Treasurer Chief Medical Officer Of Health Chief Municipal Veterinary Surgeon Municipal Assessor Chief Librarian Charity Commissioner Chief Fire Officer Administration The Mayor serves as the head of the council assisted by a Deputy Mayor. A Municipal Commissioner heads the staff and administration municipal, which is made up of 16 departments. The Municipal Commissioner is appointed by the minister of local government or which ever minister the subject is vested under. Usually the appointment would be made from an officer seconded from the Sri Lanka Administrative Service. In the absence of the mayor or deputy mayor or following the end of term of the council, the commissioner would serve as the officer implementing the powers and functions of the Colombo municipal council. Municipal Commissioner is entitled to use of Park House, Colombo as an official residence which is a 16 bedroom mansion at Albert Crescent, Colombo 7. Departments The Colombo municipal council is made up of 16 departments. These include; Mayor's Office Municipal Treasurer’s Department Municipal Secertary’s Department Municipal Engineer’s Department Municipal Health Department Municipal Veterinary Department Curative Department Indigenous Health Department Public Library Department (Colombo Public Library) Public Assistance Department Legal Department Sports and Recreation Department Training and Development Department Municipal Assessor’s Department Central Procurement Department Fire Service Department (Colombo Fire Brigade) Powers and functions The municipal council is responsible for: Urban planning, architectural designs Sanitation (waste, sewage) Health and