Artificial beach comes up in Mount Lavinia

19 April 2020 07:17 pm - 13 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Amidst environmental concerns, the construction of an artificial beach between Kalutara and Mount Lavinia is being expedited.

The Kalutara North Calido beach Development Project is being constructed in three stages.

Construction work on the project was in full swing over the weekend in Mount Lavinia under tight police security.

The Coast Conservation Department said that cabinet approval had been obtained for the project, and once completed, will help boost the fisheries sector and tourism in the area.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had inspected the progress of the project in March.

Under the first phase of the project, a 2 km long and 25 m wide an artificial beach will be constructed. Three hundred thousand cubic meters of sand will be used for the filling process.

Coast Conservation Department (CCD) Director General Prabath Chandrakeerthi told Daily Mirror the project is estimated to cost approximately Rs. 890m.

He said that construction of the artificial beach was proposed following extensive sea erosion in that area.

Daily Mirror visited the location over the weekend and saw construction work ongoing amidst tight security.

Air Force officers who arrived at the location at the time had also questioned construction workers on the project as they were not aware of what was going on.

Asked why there was tight security, the Coast Conservation Department said that there have been concerns from locals about the impact in the area on the environment, and therefore security had been beefed up.

Chandrakeerthi, however, claimed that an environmental assessment report has been obtained for the project and dismissed any concerns that may arise on the impact to the environment.

The construction of the artificial beach is being carried out by a foreign firm, with the involvement of a local company.

The 500-meter section has already been completed

Sand for the project is being extracted from the sea in Ratmalana, with the aid of a dredger. The project will encompass 500m of artificial beach in Mount Lavinia, 1.5 Km in the Ratmalana area and 2 Km in Kalutara.

Construction work on this project is expected to continue into next week.

The former cabinet had approved a similar project. The former government approved a proposal to invest more than US$300 million to reclaim land for a new beachfront from Kollupitiya to Dehiwela. (Indika Sri Aravinda)

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Comments - 13

Sam Sunday, 19 April 2020 07:34 PM

Presently requirements ?????????????????????

School Principal Sunday, 19 April 2020 07:45 PM

A foreign firm is building these beaches and as usual our Sri Lankan qualified engineers are playing no role in it. We must close all Engineering Faculties in Sri Lankan Universities and instead open up Technical Colleges and train practical Engineers.

Monkeybrain Monday, 20 April 2020 06:21 AM

Yes, close all engineering and medical schools and also other university faculties. Instead, train house maids and workers to do the menial work in Middle East and elsewhere. In that way we can enhance the already high reputation of Sri Lankans even higher around the world.

sam silva Sunday, 19 April 2020 10:25 PM

Mother nature has sent a strong message not to mess with the environment but we never listen.

ASWIN Welikala Monday, 20 April 2020 12:32 AM

What are your qualifications to your suggestion ? A degree from Royal college Polonaruwa

Melvyn Perera Monday, 20 April 2020 01:53 AM

That's because the human race is run by its worst. Ultimately we will all pay the price for the greed and ignorance of a few.

haris wijayasiri Monday, 20 April 2020 12:43 AM

The flooding in Kalutara etc., is a result of the filling of land for port city. There is no evidence available to the public that an Oceanographic study had been conducted prior to the Port City project. The errors and commissions continue. The general public pays for it.

Balangoda Monday, 20 April 2020 03:45 AM

Yep, this is the last thing we wants. Let’s stop all the developments, let’s build universities, tech collages, schools and more universities and collages. If there are yet more money left pay our engineers and other professionals air fair and other expenses so they can migrate to Australia USA uk and all other countries and work for them. And make more professionals and send them there too. We can’t eat developments can we?

RP Monday, 20 April 2020 04:04 AM

I agree with the School principal's comment. Why always a foreign firm? Along with foreign workers with a lame excuse that the "Foreign" Engineers don't speak English. Are we not capable of constructing anything? I do miss the much hated/revered Dr. N.M Perera and the Mrs. Bandaranaike's cabinet. Sad state of our Civil Engineers and construction firms!

Dee Monday, 20 April 2020 05:51 AM

We must be paying the foreign firm with the newly printed Rs. 5000/- notes!

citizen Monday, 20 April 2020 06:38 AM

what Artificial beach for sri lanka, we r blessed with natural beach surrounding our country. this is a bull shit project just to fill the politicians pockets.

K.L Pathirana Monday, 20 April 2020 08:22 PM

In deed the country known for its natural beaches now are being fill in with reclamation sand. What would you think can happen after a year ? Who is the foreign firm ? Why the name of the firm is not given to the public ?

Aroshini Holsborough Tuesday, 21 April 2020 08:05 PM

Oh wow, agree with "Citizen's" comment above; why would you need an artificial beach on an island blessed with natural beauty, and by foreign firms? Minorites/ foreigners living abroad wouldn't get such an easy ride with access to prime locations, unless they were linked to other "useful" allies.

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Artificial beach comes up in Mount Lavinia

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