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CCD removes 21 illegal structures along Mirissa beach

11 May 2018 05:20 pm - 37     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Twenty one unauthorized structures along the Mirissa beach including Water Creatures Beach Guest Restaurant & Surf Bar where a group of Dutch tourists were assaulted were demolished today by the Coast Conservation Department (CCD).

CCD Director General B.K. Prabath Chandrakeerthi said there were no interruptions neither did any one intervene when the demolishing were going on under tight security.

More than 100 police officers, 24 Anti-Riot Squad personnel and a water cannon were deployed at Mirissa apart from several teams of Special Task Force (STF) personnel to prevent any protest against the action.

President Maithripala Sirisena ordered the removal on May 4 after the CCD backtracked under pressure from two powerful ministers. (Thilanka Kanakarathna)

 

Video by Krishan Jeewaka Jayaruk

 

- Pix by Krishan Jeewaka Jayaruk


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  Comments - 37

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  • malij Friday, 11 May 2018 06:31 PM

    Its like getting a welcome drizzle in a parched land. Hope it would continue.

    Banda Friday, 11 May 2018 06:33 PM

    At last! Well done, Continue this with other illegal activities

    Lankan Friday, 11 May 2018 09:29 PM

    Hundreds of people are unemployed now! Beach boys harassment issue must be taken care seperately.. destroying the livelihood of these people won't solve the issue!

    Dee Saturday, 12 May 2018 12:04 AM

    To that Lankan beach boy. Don't tarnish the image of SL. Because of people with shallow thinking like you, we Lankans have lost our face world over. Look at it! We can't even go anywhere without a visa. We are seen as a three wheeler country! Shame!

    Ajith Saturday, 12 May 2018 02:27 AM

    Lankan, Ilegal activities can not be the employment, then the drug dealing is also a employment.

    Gamarala Saturday, 12 May 2018 01:28 PM

    Lankan - One cannot protect sexual devients at the cost of the employment of so called 'Beach boys". What happened is already in travel magazines in western countries. I hope the culprits would be given long prison sentences and then barred from ever frequenting tourists spots. That was an utter disgrace to the good name of Sri Lanka.

    southerner Friday, 11 May 2018 06:46 PM

    Many good and straight forward decisions taken by President is appreciated.

    Saradiel Friday, 11 May 2018 06:47 PM

    Great. Should not allow illegal structures anywhere specially in areas popular with tourists.

    mohafazm Friday, 11 May 2018 06:53 PM

    Good things needs to be appreciated. Well done Mr President. This is what we expect - quick and correct action

    Preethi Friday, 11 May 2018 09:10 PM

    He's the one who blocked it in the first place after listening to his minister. As usual changed the decision but this time for good.

    dulan Friday, 11 May 2018 07:02 PM

    Why was it allowed to built and operate these businesses for so many years? Must one harass or rape some foreign girl before they are removed?

    RR Saturday, 12 May 2018 12:26 AM

    Yes, it is Sri Lanka...

    rosebud Friday, 11 May 2018 07:04 PM

    Well done to all who achieved this long overdue exercise. Just don't allow them back due to political pressure.

    Unchikun Friday, 11 May 2018 08:15 PM

    Good riddance of bad rubbish! Thanks

    Rufus Norton Friday, 11 May 2018 08:47 PM

    Finally, they did what had to be done earlier. They must clear the beaches of thugs and beach boys who prey on tourists, if not the tourism industry is going to be affected immensely and thousands of people will lose their jobs.

    Kumar Friday, 11 May 2018 08:59 PM

    Mr. President, you got it right this time. Keep up the good work. Too bad for the thugs who think every female tourist is there to play. Most tourists arrive in Srilanka for a period of R

    RP Friday, 11 May 2018 10:00 PM

    Well done Mr. Chandrakeerti. Please keep up your good work.Good job MS for facilitating CCD with security to carry on with their tasks and also, replacing STC with someone not made criminal headlines.One more field to concentrate is Animal welfare. We are attracting lots of New immigrants who are known to devour anything that walks and fly. Need to tighten the immigration rules and strictly enforce Wildlife conservation. SF is the minister and I am confident he will get the job done effectively.MS is finally woken up and surprising me with back to back constructive actions and if he continues with Noble work, I might re-consider voting for him in 2020.

    Gummay Baiya Friday, 11 May 2018 10:02 PM

    Great! Now government lackeys can move in and build their own structures when bribes will legalize what is "illegal". Ohomma Yammu!

    Tony Friday, 11 May 2018 10:24 PM

    Government just a killed a livelihood of a whole town over night !!! Well done Sri Lanka government!! like no other

    Gamarala Saturday, 12 May 2018 01:35 PM

    Tony are you inferring to the sexual devients who harassed the tourists. Its such a shame people such as you are feeling sorry for them. They should all be in jail. Already this incident is in travel magazines in Europe. Such a disgrage to Sri Lanka when we are trying to improve our image abroad to encourge more tourists to come to the island. Disgrace what happend to the young women at this place.

    Coconut Republic Friday, 11 May 2018 10:26 PM

    This is indeed excellent job done. Continue to get rid of all illegal activities, at sheer pace. Well done!

    Saman Friday, 11 May 2018 10:44 PM

    Why only in Mirissa? It's ideal if it implement on everywhere. Now in most of the places no place to walk on the beach also.

    rainbird Saturday, 12 May 2018 03:22 PM

    Next action needed: Hikkaduwa town beach!

    Gp Sunday, 13 May 2018 09:17 AM

    This is a awakening to other illegal beach places Island wide, if you don't behave, you will get the same treatment.

    Manel Saturday, 12 May 2018 01:42 AM

    An excellent job. Similarly can't the president give instructions to to catch private bus drivers who drive like maniacs endangering the lives innocent passengers and road users.

    terin silva Saturday, 12 May 2018 06:05 AM

    clear dehiwela /wellawatte areas too Barakuda and few others on the marine drive is an eyesore

    Observer Saturday, 12 May 2018 07:03 AM

    At last.There have been so many problems there but never dealt with due to ineffective police who just were not doing their job so many things went un reported.Now is the chance to rebuild Mirissa and do positive pr before next season or a new wave of crime will start due to lack of earnings from tourism. Control the beachboys, the beach,the bars (which a beach resort does need),control the owners and ensure they are fit ti run establishments. Mirissa beach was once one 8f the most beautiful Natural beaches , promote its beauty.

    Shelly Saturday, 12 May 2018 07:44 AM

    Thats what we want Mr President, support the ministers who do things right, well done Mr Chandrakreethi, now move on to Mt Lavinia , Dehiwela and Wellawatte areas.There are enough jobs if these beach boys want , but the thugs and drug peddlers need quick bucks. Over to u Mr Fonseka it’s your turn now, protect the wild life and flona

    Mahajana Saturday, 12 May 2018 07:49 AM

    Politicians should not accept funds from businessmen who are involved in illegal trades, to finance their electoral campaigns.

    Sambo Saturday, 12 May 2018 08:01 AM

    Please clear all illegal structure in the entire down south. In the name of self employment you cannot allow illegal things to happen. If these were not allowed by so called politicians then we will never have illegal structures.

    Illegal Saturday, 12 May 2018 08:24 AM

    You cannot justify illegal work in the name of livelihood!! Thats the problem in everywhere in Sri lanka. You justify any illegal thing by saying its the livelihood.

    Rohana Saturday, 12 May 2018 09:19 AM

    This is a good thing but should apply to all including Sinhala, Muslim, Tamil and Burghers. First of all go to Babile road at Gampola and demolish the Muslim Mosque built over the public road 100% illegally where Sinhalese including Buddhist monks have to walk under the feet of the Muslims. The law clearly stated no one can build anything over a public road, then how come Muslims are allowed? You can' discriminate. That is not Yahapalanaya.

    Mikal Shaw Saturday, 12 May 2018 09:29 AM

    We were visiting Mirissa as tourists (from USA, Germany, Canada) on May 10th and 11th.On the 10th we found a beautiful beach with many small restaurants and bars. I actually came to Mirissa to enjoy the relaxed beachlife and have nice food and drinks on the beach, because this is what tourists know Mirissa for (see LonelyPlanet).On the 11th we came back to the same place and there was a riot between the beach people and the police which ended up in brutally breaking down many nice little bars and burning them. So we sat on the beach looking at all the fires with depressed locals which just lost their existence. Within one week all those people were randomly made unemployed and some tourist attractions were destroyed. I see it is useful to react on former harrassments and there needs sth to be done but the government is doing it wrong.You shuold talk to each other and find a solution all together. Burning down everything just makes the problem worse!

    Rasika Saturday, 12 May 2018 11:10 AM

    A quick one, was this not meant to be 17 places that were given notice according to an earlier article by the daily mirror? I assume in writing and official documentation from the authorities. Then it seems to have gone up to 21 on the day?There appears to a be a clear lack of due process with how this was carried out in general. From looking at these pictures there are also other concerns when carrying out this type of 'controlled demolition' there are many safety aspects that must be looked at, surely each site must be looked at by an inspector and signed off. these places have gas lines. Hopefully, these are looked at in the future when more of these kinds of things are carried out. Driving past Mirissa it looked like a war zone.

    R.Anthony Saturday, 12 May 2018 02:34 PM

    Well done CCD / D.G appreciation for a Great Officer. Others please follow this and Do what's entrusted to you. Awaiting to see if SOMEBODY even the Top Executive could do the same in other places where there are so many illegal constructions. Congratulations Mr Chandrakeerthi keep it up. Good Job

    Anushka WJ Saturday, 12 May 2018 03:06 PM

    Superb! Things which should be appreciated should be appreciated. Very courageous move despite the involvement of various politicians. Hats off

    Patricia De Alwis Sunday, 01 July 2018 08:54 PM

    Illegal structures should not be allowed but this isn’t the way to do it and this isn’t the way to do it. Beach boys and this actions are a totally separate issue.I hope the place has been cleaned up and the rubble not left to polite our ocean.


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