Borella cemetery hikes burial fees

7 November 2014 02:12 am - 12 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A A A

Sri Lanka's main cemetery is set to introduce a 10-fold hike in the price of burial plots to ease congestion in the capital's most prestigious graveyard dating from British colonial rule, officials said Thursday.

The Colombo Municipal Council, which administers the carefully tended Colombo General Cemetery, said demand for burial plots has surged while the cost has remained unchanged for a quarter-century.

“We have a serious space problem at the cemetery and demand is rising,” Colombo Mayor A.J.M. Muzamil told AFP.

“The rates are not reflective of market value and we want to correct that,” Muzamil added.

Only Colombo's 550,000 residents are entitled to make the green, tree-lined cemetery their final resting place.

“But outsiders are also 'dying' to be buried there,” the council's chief medical officer Ruwan Wijayamuni told AFP.

“Some buy plots in the name of residents and the burial plot is actually used by someone from outside,” Wijayamuni said.

“For the very wealthy, it is matter of prestige to own a plot at the Colombo General,” Wijayamuni said.

The authorities plan to increase the price of a four-square-foot (0.37-square-metre) plot from $132 to $1,300.

“If we don't take some immediate action, we will soon run out of space,” Wijayamuni said.

Officials hope the increase would deter people from reserving burial plots for outsiders, Wijayamuni said.

But a burial plot in Colombo's best resting place still costs far less than in much of the developed world where the price can be many thousands of dollars, Wijayamuni noted.

The cemetery contains the remains of British science fiction writer Arthur C. Clarke, one of Sri Lanka's best-known foreign residents who died in 2008 at the age of 90.

Many of the other graves date from the period of British colonial rule of the palm-fringed tropical island.

The cemetery was commissioned in 1866.

A section of the cemetery isreserved for Commonwealth War Graves, maintained by Britain.

The cemetery is a tourist attraction in Colombo because of its huge trees, manicured lawns and carefully maintained flower beds. The area is also an oasis for birds.

The authorities are also about to add a new crematorium to ease congestion at the 44-acre (20-hectare) graveyard which is located in a posh part of the capital over looking the exclusive Royal Colombo Golf Club.

While Buddhists, who form the majority of Sri Lanka's more than 20-million population, opt for both cremations as well as burials, most Christians choose burials. (AFP)

Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka

Comments - 12

Mm Friday, 07 November 2014 09:40 AM

Why is the prise given in dollers?

Empulze Friday, 07 November 2014 09:42 AM

Even death doesnt stop the greed via DM Android App

ANTON Friday, 07 November 2014 10:37 AM

BECAUSE THE SOULS OF THE DEAD BODIES NO LONGER BELONG TO SRILANKA.

Nihal Friday, 07 November 2014 10:42 AM

The price is given in dollars because this report was filed by a journalist working for AFP, an international news agency.

Vernon Friday, 07 November 2014 11:54 AM

Why do you want to sell plots in advance? Then only all the issues arise. Just allocate a space to bury after charging a reasonable maintenance fee, and after submission of death and residence certificate. These should be only un built graves. Or make cremation compulsory as it is a management issue of cemeteries. No religion dictates burial or cremation.

Jayantha Friday, 07 November 2014 02:00 PM

How did Mervyn Silva got to know about price increase in advance?

Calistus Jayatilleke Friday, 07 November 2014 02:56 PM

In this Miracle of ASIA, one has to pay a heavy price to be born, educateed, married, living and even dead.

shek Friday, 07 November 2014 03:42 PM

a costly resting place via DM Android App

dean Saturday, 08 November 2014 12:52 PM

death is certain to every one. the way to mitigate the issu is simplifying the process if its 100 year old buried just make room to bury another and stop allocating the burial place to a individual person or a family keep it common please remember dead means no life the soul is life so respect the dead with dignity and give the soul peace.the dead rest in peace .soul live in peace.

yajiv Saturday, 08 November 2014 05:59 PM

$1 to 130 Sri Lankan Rupee.With the proposed hike its about 169,000 Sri Lankan Rupee.

Mr. Bernard Wijeyasingha Sunday, 09 November 2014 01:00 AM

Cremation should be encouraged. But those who insist on Burial then should have the option of buildings that house them. It is the latest way to meet burial rituals and save space.

WALTER FERNANDO Saturday, 08 September 2018 02:38 PM

PLEASE HELP ME TO RE-TRACE THE BURIAL GROUND OF ANNESLEY MENDIS AND LEO FERNANDO WHOSE BONES WERE BURIED TOGETHER IN KANATTE ON 12 SEPTEMBER 1964.PROBABLY IN THE ANGLICAN SECTION.THERE WAS A MONUMENT WITH THE TWO NAMES SOMETIME AGO.WILLING TO MEET THE COST OF THE SEARCH.THANKS

Add comment
Comments will be edited (grammar, spelling and slang) and authorized at the discretion of Daily Mirror online. The website also has the right not to publish selected comments.

Borella cemetery hikes burial fees

Comments - 12

Add comment

RECOMMENDED

‘Spike in blast fishing’ poses renewed threats to Sri Lanka’s marine ecosystems

UDA owned land in Thalawathugoda; UDA Minister Prasanna Ranatunga under the spotlight for forceful occupation of reserved land

Loss-making SMIB faces political pressure in recovering loans

Baltimore Bridge Collapse: MV Dali, SL authorities anchored in mystery?

Has Sri Lanka become a potential hub for the illegal wildlife trade?

Spotlight on Moragahakanda Development Project Moragolla villagers lose livelihoods and down to one meal a day

Ambitious Sri Lankan jobseekers ‘trafficked into Ukraine war zones’

Most Viewed in News

Former MP Palitha Thewarapperuma dies from electrocution

SL on alert on possible genocide allegations by Canada

Racing event tragedy leaves seven dead including eight-year-old child

New Visa procedure implemented

Two racing drivers arrested over Fox Hill tragedy

Sri Lankan among NASA’s new crew for next simulated Mars journey

MIRROR CRICKET

TODAY'S HEADLINES