CCD halts removal of unauthorised structures in Mirissa

30 April 2018 02:26 pm - 50 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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The Coast Conservation Department (CCD) has decided to suspend the removal of illegal constructions on the Mirissa and Weligama coastal belt until further notice, Director General B.K. Prabath Chandrakeerthi said today.

He told Daily Mirror several owners had informed the CCD that they would voluntarily remove their unauthorized constructions.

However, according to reliable sources two powerful ministers are pressuring the CCD to stop the removal of these constructions.

The CCD identified 17 unauthorized constructions on the Mirissa beach and ordered that they be removed by May 1 in the wake of some Dutch tourists being assaulted there on April 8.

Provincial Councils and Local Government Minister Faiszer Musthapha had opposed the decision to remove these constructions say it would hamper the livelihood of small scale entrepreneurs.

Several hoteliers and residents said the controversial Water Creatures Beach Guest Restaurant & Surf Bar whose employees assaulted the tourists was a well-known hot spot of several ministers. (Thilanka Kanakarathna)

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Comments - 50

Mm Monday, 30 April 2018 02:38 PM

No words. Our country has gone to the politicians who feed the thugs. President wake up.

SIXTY NINE Monday, 30 April 2018 05:09 PM

"feed the thugs" ? - more because it is a "well-known hot spot" - where several ministers can perform the 69 and enjoy the taste (of the feed).

Gobba Monday, 30 April 2018 06:54 PM

Its the Presidential orders that STOPPED this task !!!!

Jaliya Monday, 30 April 2018 07:17 PM

President wake up ..... are you joking ?? This man [Mustapha] is in the Presidential Counsel ... he is one of the legal advisors to the president ... this president is taking advice from someone who is dishonest and promote illegal activities ..now can you count on MS to interfere ? He has no idea which side is up !!

Machan Monday, 30 April 2018 08:09 PM

MR PRESIDENT,MR PRIME MINISTER ITS TIME TO WAKE UP. GIVE THE SIGNAL TO THE THUGS THAT THEY WONT BE TOLERATED OR SHOW THE WORLD THAT YOUR GOVERNMENT IS NOT EVEN STRONG ENOUGH TO REMOVE AN UNAUTHORISED STRUCTURE.

Ajith Monday, 30 April 2018 02:48 PM

Prabath Chandrakeerthi now it is time to show you have backbone.

Stunned Citizen Monday, 30 April 2018 02:58 PM

The Bane of this country strikes again. What part of illegal doesn’t the minister understand.

Labby Monday, 30 April 2018 03:00 PM

Even a simple thing like this cannot be done without having to bow down to political pressure. Shame !

GC Monday, 30 April 2018 03:07 PM

So, who are these 'several ministers'? Who are the two powerful ministers (one looks like Musthapa)? People need to know who is encouraging illegal activities in the country and, perhaps, may even be benefitting from them. Poor CCD. When will F.M. Fonseka become the Law and Order Minister?

DHA Monday, 30 April 2018 03:09 PM

End of the the political power wins over justice....

R J Das Monday, 30 April 2018 05:44 PM

Who are the culprits.? Is it Politicians or the voters who put them to power knowing this faults.?

neil Monday, 30 April 2018 03:24 PM

No systems or procedures. Politicians react according to situation. what a country! How long Sri Lanka wait go to get visionary ministers and officials who think and can streamline and get rid of pressures, political or otherwise, from the system so that everybody gets a fair go and still protect environment, livelihoods, safety and culture.It is the same stoery for for building/housing approvals etc.

Jaliya Monday, 30 April 2018 03:25 PM

Someone is buying time to sort out the fake documents. It is satisfactory some owners agreed to remove the structures at their expense but now we need to hold those who erected the structures illegally, responsible for the crime committed along with the two powerful ministers need to be taken out of their portfolios immediately for openly advocating for such illegal activities. It would be important to notify the public of those who openly support illegal structures if not they would all go in next election.

Smart Guru Monday, 30 April 2018 03:39 PM

Perfect example of why this country will never develop. If it were any other country the illegal establishment would have been removed even without the issue arising. Pro active approach. We need a young president 38 to 55 age and minister with educational background and speaking English. They should be well travelled and experienced so they don’t chase money. Any one agree with me??

concern Monday, 30 April 2018 07:06 PM

Keep dreaming on !

Smart Guru Monday, 30 April 2018 10:49 PM

@ Concern. Every great thing started with a Dream!!

Dan Monday, 30 April 2018 04:24 PM

This is why this Country needs Gota....

Arthur Monday, 30 April 2018 04:55 PM

Please remember that these were started during Gota's time.

Nalin Monday, 30 April 2018 06:12 PM

absolutely correct. No option other than GOTA

suresh Tuesday, 01 May 2018 10:13 AM

why is Gota above the law of this country

Lord Wolfstein Monday, 30 April 2018 04:27 PM

The president looks after fences, wishes of monks and other nonsense but does not protect righteous government workers and allows his ministers to pressurize them and work together openly with the underworld.

VOTES Monday, 30 April 2018 05:04 PM

VOTES my dear, VOTES

Aloka Monday, 30 April 2018 04:38 PM

What are the leaders doing, President and Prime minister cannot just watch and sit and wait, look at the opposition leaders no one is uttering a word about this, who is the minister for CCD, is he going to back his employees who are trying to work honestly for the benefit of the country. This is how the politicians demoralize the honest hardworking govt. staff. Enough is enough. we the people and the journalists through these forums needs to change the country.

sandy Monday, 30 April 2018 04:46 PM

Coast Conservation is under the Ministry of Environment. Minister is the President. Spineless.

GC Monday, 30 April 2018 08:59 PM

Is the Minister responsible "spineless" or complicit? I fear it could be the latter.

malij Monday, 30 April 2018 04:47 PM

There is no difference between the former government and this government. everyone are the same, with different faces.

malij Monday, 30 April 2018 04:58 PM

Could somebody, a civil organization, or a environmental society, take CCD to courts on this matter? Voicing our frustrations here alone will not change anything. We have to fight for a better future at least for our kids. Create a properly monitored fund to fight such cases and I'm sure lot of people will contribute.

BSP Monday, 30 April 2018 05:11 PM

"YAHAPALANAYA"

lanka Monday, 30 April 2018 05:14 PM

The clueless president just looks on and then wakes up from his dreams and gives a humorless grin to cover his failures. Get lost if you can't do the job.

sumal perera Monday, 30 April 2018 05:18 PM

It is believed that Faizer Musthapa is behind some illegal business in Mirissa according to an investigative story that was published in Colombo Telegraph.

Nilame Monday, 30 April 2018 05:25 PM

What a country we living? another classic example in which a good decision on protecting the tourism industry being halted due to political influence, pretty sad.

GC Monday, 30 April 2018 09:01 PM

I cannot believe that someone has voted negative to this piece of truth that the Nilame has said.

Buddhist Monday, 30 April 2018 05:41 PM

This is how the laws of the nation are violated with the support of ministers. Who are the ministers? Please name them.

Chanaka Monday, 30 April 2018 05:42 PM

Let's put an end to this weak governance in 2020! Enough is enough

Coconut Republic Monday, 30 April 2018 06:33 PM

Send out a mass petition in all languages. It's high time all mass to come to street, like Philippines, Thailand, South Korea and many more, and throw out all corrupt immediately.

ajja Monday, 30 April 2018 06:34 PM

What we do not have this country is 'Lobby groups' like in Europe / US. If you see politicians do thing against country we must expose them in social media. No point just blaming the country or system. We must do our part

Dayan Monday, 30 April 2018 09:07 PM

For another 70 years this country will never develop. Don't expect any development unless a honest straightforward fear less leader who has a good vision comes in to power.

Warren Raed Monday, 30 April 2018 10:38 PM

President must be having a commission from them too like from the sand mining and the rice business.

RP Tuesday, 01 May 2018 02:22 AM

I guess I have underestimated the power of Minister Mustapha.Sri Lanka is for people like Ministers Mustapha and Bathi-uddeen Mohamed and not for any law abiding officials or citizens. Law abiding people pay taxes and licenses meanwhile, illegals don't pay anything except promote thuggery.Sad indeed that our competent servants are being pressured to give up their diligent tasks by these crooked politicians! What is our President is doing? Shame!

Tinkiriya Tuesday, 01 May 2018 04:17 AM

Do we wait until a major incident or homicide to take action? If these structures were "unauthorized" or businesses were unlicensed to operate, then why do we allow this in the first place?

Gammay Tommiya Tuesday, 01 May 2018 04:21 AM

Are these beach boys and unscrupulous traders the Minister's most die hard voters or paying Kuppum for the minister?

Cobra Tuesday, 01 May 2018 06:59 AM

Even the JO has approved the earlier action of the CCD by their loud silence!!!

Ishan Tuesday, 01 May 2018 07:10 AM

It is president order, pathetic situation approved thugs by Mustafa.

Eddy Tuesday, 01 May 2018 08:11 AM

The president is spineless wimp with talk only.

DG Tuesday, 01 May 2018 08:19 AM

Where is President and PM, why law not enforced but deferred by political pressure. If owners are voluntarily removing structures what is the dead line given.

Palugaswewa Tuesday, 01 May 2018 08:55 AM

WHO IS GOVERNING THIS COUNTRY. dO WE HAVE A PRESIDENT?

Thomas Tuesday, 01 May 2018 08:57 AM

PRESIDENT, please wake up take quick action to remove these UNAUTHORIZED structures from Mirissa and other beach fronts throughout the entire coast of Sri Lanka in the interest of Lankans and visiting foreigners to this island Nation.

nel Tuesday, 01 May 2018 09:26 AM

when will sarath fonseka will be the law and order minister.?? No thugs will be able to run a rampage then!!

Sanath Tuesday, 01 May 2018 10:58 AM

This is a cursed land, otherwise such things could not happen. If politicos are extending their blessings to illegal acts, and nobody had the guts to go against and do justice, what can we expect, and where the country would go??

Ajja Tuesday, 01 May 2018 02:09 PM

Yes..President is sleeping a lot and he need to Wake up rather than say "i dont Know about this and that"

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CCD halts removal of unauthorised structures in Mirissa

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