By Nidarshani Wickramasinghe The removal of structures along the coastal belt from Wellawatte to Mount Lavinia would be carried out in stages, with dates being allocated according to the number of officers available from the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, Environment Minister Dammika Patabendi said. He said it had been decided to identify and remove [...]
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The removal of structures along the coastal belt from Wellawatte to Mount Lavinia would be carried out in stages, with dates being allocated according to the number of officers available from the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, Environment Minister Dammika Patabendi said.
He said it had been decided to identify and remove unauthorised constructions by dividing the coastal area into five zones, extending up to the Beira Lake area.
Under Zone No. 02, some 83 structures between Wellawatte and Mount Lavinia have been identified for removal, and the work will be carried out systematically by assigning officers in stages, he said.
“No construction can be carried out within the 10-metre coastal reservation measured inland from the sea. The area extending 25 metres from the limit reached by the sea waves, or the prescribed limit applicable to the relevant zone, is a public area to which people have the right to freely gather, bathe and move about. Therefore, no hotel has the right to fence off such areas, claim them as private property or restrict them exclusively to tourists.
We are acting in accordance with the Coast Conservation Act. We will not act outside the law,” Dr Patabendi said.
The government has decided to remove unauthorised structures along the coastline as part of plans to develop the areas into attractive tourist destinations.
Deputy Environment Minister Anton Jayakody recently said that action would be taken under the relevant regulations to remove all unauthorised structures along the coast.
He said that under the Coast Conservation and Coastal Resource Management Act No. 57 of 1981, a valid permit is needed for building within the coastal zone. The Act also grants the department the authority to remove unauthorised buildings without first obtaining a court order.
However, Environment Minister Patabendi said that owners have the right to seek legal action if they think an injustice has been caused to them and appeal to the Coast Conservation and Coastal Resource Management Department.
He said that in such instances, the department and the relevant authorities would be bound to comply with any order issued by the courts.
Meanwhile, despite the Coast Conservation Department reportedly informing that structures between Bambalapitiya and Dehiwala should be removed by 10 September, until Friday none had been demolished, the Sunday Times observed during a visit to the area.
Most owners said that they had not received any notice of demolition.
Some restaurants along the coast were seen to have been abandoned after being affected by coastal erosion several months or more than a year ago.
Commenting on the issue, a person who operates a restaurant on a rented premises and wished to remain anonymous said it would be safer to remove illegal structures.
“We had been told that any illegal structures located in areas belonging to the Coast Conservation authorities had to be removed before the 10th. I had some huts belonging to my restaurant on the beach, and I removed them. The restaurant itself is located within the legally permitted boundary.
“There are numerous drug promotions being carried out in this area under the guise of beach parties. Drugs are being sold inside establishments operating as restaurants. Therefore, it is good that the government is removing these unnecessary places. In my view, they should be taken over by the government and put to use in a way that generates income for the state,” he said.
Meanwhile, another restaurant owner on Marine Drive refused to remove the business.
“We have reached an agreement not to express our views individually, which is why I do not wish to make a statement with my name disclosed. We have not received any written notice regarding this matter. We are not leaving, and no one can force us to leave,” he stressed.
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