CMC dismisses false claims of suspended parking fees in Colombo

The Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) has clarified that parking fees continue to be collected within the City of Colombo, dismissing false claims circulating on social media that the charges have been suspended. The CMC said videos circulating on Facebook and other social media platforms claiming that parking charges have been suspended are “fake news.” The council explained that the video circulating recently was in fact an old video from when parking fee collection was temporarily suspended on March 18, 2026, to ease congestion caused by long queues at fuel stations. However, following the government’s introduction of the QR code-based fuel distribution system and the odd-even vehicle number system, which eased the queues, the CMC resumed its regular parking management and fee collection from 6 a.m. on March 23, 2026, with the approval of its Finance Committee. The CMC has requested motorists using parking facilities within the City of Colombo to continue paying the applicable parking charges. (Newswire)