19 January 2021 12:07 am
No one will be allowed to carry out any development work in the Muthurajawela Sanctuary, State Minister for Rural Roads and Other Infrastructure Nimal Lansa said during the weekend.
State Minister, Nimal Lansa expressed these views while inaugurating the development of the Negombo Wellaveediya Road on Saturday.
“We have seen in the media reports that an unauthorized hotel complex was going to be constructed in the Muthurajawela Reserve. It should be clearly stated that no one is allowed to carry out any development work in the Muthurajawela Sanctuary.The water from the low- lying areas of the Gampaha District flows into this land. This area is connected to the Negombo Lagoon. Therefore, no development work is allowed in this area. We agree with Archbishop of Colombo Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith who opposed this move to carry out development work in Muthurajawela,” State Minister Lansa said.
“We are now in the process of digging the unauthorised filling that had been done. We have also informed the Department of Agrarian Development, the Department of Wildlife and other relevant institutions to inform us of any unauthorised filling taking place. Fillings in Muthurahawela will be removed in the due course,” he added.