KURULU KOOJANA KARIYAKARAWANA 
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Stinking Beira to get attention finally; Joint cleaning project to kickoff today
Colombo, Jan 15 (Daily Mirror) - The stinking odor and the garbage mounting problem of the Colombo's tourism hotspot Beira Lake near the Gangaramaya Seema Malaka, which repulses hundreds of foreign and local tourists that visit every day to witness a mesmerizing sunset, has finally won attention of the authorities to kickoff with a cleaning project today, the Daily Mirror learns.
Officials representing several government authorities, who claimed to be responsible for the lake, said a special programme is underway to clear the city’s rich water source on the instructions of the Western Province Governor Hanif Yusoof.
Following a brief visit to the lake area yesterday, over several complaints were received from the public. The Daily Mirror learnt that the stench emanating from the foul water was intolerable to both local and foreign visitors as well as to the routine vendors that flock the area to sell flowers, incense and snacks.
Scores of tourists visiting the most popular portion of the Beira Lake bordering Nawam Mawatha, Perahera Mawatha and the Colombo – Batticaloa Highway were seen repulsively covering their noses over the bad odor generated as a result of thick swamp like stagnated water filled with plastic and food waste mixed with a green algae.
Anya from Poland speaking to the Daily Mirror said the scenic beauty of the Buddhist heritage site on the lake was breathtaking but the odor emanating from the water was ‘pretty nasty’.
A local tour guide who accompanied a group of foreigners said it is shameful for them to bring tourists to an area under an entrance ticket of Rs.400 per head when a bad smell is spreading around.
Many visiting devotees and tourists blamed the authorities and complained to the media about the current condition of the Beira Lake, which was remembered as an ideal tourist spot and a mentally soothing environment for the devotees with an abundant bird population.
When contacted, Commissioner Colombo Municipal Council Palitha Nanayakkara told the Daily Mirror the environmental responsibility of the Gangaramaya Beira Lake area is a collective one with several government authorities involved in.
The basin of the Beira Lake belongs to Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA), whilst the responsibility of the water content comes under Sri Lanka Land Reclamation and Development Corporation (SLLRDC). The banks and outer edge of the lake belong to the Urban Development Authority (UDA) and the walking paths around the lake come under the CMC.
“We will make sure that there will be no garbage dumped around the lake and that what is dumped in the water and the cleaning and clearing of it comes under the SLLRDC. However, a hundred-year-old sewage system that starts from the Norris Canal Road ends up at the Beira Lake creating much pollution within,” Nanayakkara said.
The Commissioner said a special discussion was held on Monday morning between the CMC officials and the Western Province Governor Hanif Yusoof regarding the garbage matter and a programme is scheduled to commence by Wednesday under the guidance of the UDA.
When contacted Director Facilities of the UDA Nihal Ranasinghe told the Daily Mirror a group of officials representing UDA, SLLRDC, CMC and SLPA gathered at the site last Friday with the Minister of Urban Development, Construction and Housing Anura Karunathilaka to observe the situation.
“Although, the cleaning of the lake falls under SLLRDC, the said authorities are planning to commence a joint clearing programme today to make the area pleasant and healthy for any visitor. It will be an important task even under the ‘Clean Sri Lanka’ initiative,” Ranasinghe said.
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