MPNA vows to ground plans for helipad

Legal action will be taken to obtain a writ of prohibition, if the Government goes ahead  with the construction of a helipad or a cable car system in the Sri Pada wilderness, the  Movement to Protect National Assets (MPNA) said.

The MPNA is an organization dedicated for the preservation and protection of national  heritages.

Its Chairman Kolonnawe Sri Shantha Wijaya Thera said an area politician, district  secretariat officials and the Basnayake Nilame of the Ratnapura Saman Devalaya were  known to have held discussions on the feasibility of constructing a cable car system and  a temporary helipad for the use of VIPs, despite environmentalists having warned that  such constructions would result in extreme alterations to the pristine wilderness at the  foothills of Sri Pada.

“The Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission (SLHRC), in a ruling given on February 29, 2013  on case No: HRC/ 6441/07 clearly states that authorisation cannot be granted to  construct any type of structure in the Sri Pada terrain owing to its sensitive eco  system.

However, it seems that the area politicians and government officials are  attempting to overlook the HRC ruling and the Constitution and proceed with their plans  to destroy this valuable habitat,” Ven. Wijaya Thera said.

He it was appalling to see officials considering or entertaining such plans and  constructions because of the adverse impact on nature and the damage to the  archeological and cultural value of the location.

Ven. Wijeya Thera said several groups had attempted to harm the natural habitats of the  Sri Pada wilderness through similar schemes, which included the construction of a glass  dagoba, by a group led by a monk and few laymen.

“This group had even collected money from devotees by promoting their scheme. We filed a  complaint with the Police and the group was charged with the fraudulent collection of  money and the case is continuing at the Kandy Magistrate’s Court,” he added. (Lakna Paranamanna)