Kandy town shivers at the sound of a downpour

The people in Kandy town who have been facing a health hazard created by a dumping ground collapse have been further burdened with a severe flood threat.

Before the floods arrived, the people of the main town in the Central Hills were forced to put up with the nauseating smell caused by the collapse of the Guhagoda dumping ground.  As a result the Kandy people were breathing polluted air.  

Critics are of the opinion that the politicians who ruled the country since long and the corrupt government officials who allowed the implementation of ill planned projects, are responsible for the predicament of the hill country people. 

Adding to the dilemma faced by Kandy folk are the human activities that caused extensive environmental damage.

Kandy city is susceptible to inundation in case of a rainfall that lasts just one hour. That rainfall can be calculated as a minimum 100mm. Some of the unfortunate places to be affected by such a downpour are the Kandy Railway Station, the low lying area of Mahaiyawa tunnel and William Gopallawa Mawatha.

History proves that in the past, the kings realised that Kandy had the ability to use thickly forested multiple mountain ranges as a relief measure to be immune to natural disasters and enemy attacks. This is why the Ceylon kings chose Kandy as their kingdom. 

However, the situation today is entirely different from that day. Kandy city is today susceptible to incessant natural disasters. Some of the contributing factors for this are the unauthorised erections in the form of buildings and human activities causing massive environmental damage. The present situation doesn’t augur well for the future.

The Rajapihilla Mawatha and the hill range, overlooking Sri Dalada Maligawa (Temple of the Tooth), Queen’s Hotel and the Kandy View Point creates an eyesore. The hill range which had been an enchanting sensitive environmental zone about a decade or more ago is today a forest of ill planned buildings. 

Corrupt politicians and the senior officials of the Kandy Municipal Council for the last several decades, through craving for money, had allowed that lovely and attractive environmental zone to be at the mercy of racketeers.  Residents of Kandy pointed out that the curse of this wanton destruction of the hill range, that had once adorned the city, would fall on those responsible for it, even though they are retired. 

Storm water in the city, which is1640ft above sea level, flows into the Mahaweli River through two canals. However these two waterways have been obstructed by unauthorised erections. Meanwhile the construction of ill planned buildings has been going on unchecked. These constructions are an obstacle in the procedure of water being absorbed into the soil. 

One of the canals flows alongside William Gopallawa Mawatha to the Mahaweli River at Gatambe and the other through Asgiriya, Mahiyawa and Katugastota into the Mahaweli River at the Elephant Bath.  

The narrowness of the canal at Mahaiyawa tunnel prevents the free flow of water creating a flood threat affecting business establishments, government offices, residential houses and transportation in the area.

The Railway station is often submerged in case of a shower. Such a situation causes damage to property; even parcels in the railway parcels section are not spared.   The computers and other equipment in the Government Vocational Training Institute had been destroyed when the area was flooded during heavy rain. It is a matter of serious concern that the relevant authorities have ignored this disastrous situation. The District Coordination Committee that takes up the issued affecting Kandy district has turned a deaf ear to the continual representations of the public in this regard. 

It is sad that the Coordinating Committee Co-Chaired by Minister Lal Kantha and Central Province Governor Prof. S.B.S.Alkahakoon, and represented by senior government officials and politicians should have given priority to this issue.

The picture shows part of the Kandy Dodamwala Road having caved in 

The hill country produced a top architect in

Devendra Mullachari

The Pathirippuwa, the Octagonal Pavilion in Kandy’s Sri Dalada Maligawa, is a masterpiece of architecture that stands to the credit of the traditional upcountry architects. It is used as the symbol of Sri Dalada Maligawa (The Temple of the Tooth).

The name Devendra Mullachari alias Dingittha Appu goes down the annals of history as the main architect of the Patthirippuwa. This structure was built in 1811 during the reign of Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe, the last king of Sri Lanka. The king ruled from 1798 to 1815.

Mullachari had served under the reigns of three Kandyan kings including Kirthi Sri Rajasisnghe, Rajadhi Rajasinghe and Sri Wickrema Rajasinghe and was elevated to the position of the Royal Architect.

The mote in front of the Sri Dalada Maligawa, Magul Maduwa Audience Hall, the Kandy Lake with its decorative walls, Diyatilake Mandapa in the Kandy Lake stand to his credit.  

History has it recorded that the King had called for architectural designs from several architects and Devendra Mullachari’s designs had captured the attention of the king. It was just the one the king had visualised. 

However, Mullachari, who earned high recognition during the rule of three Kandyan kings, was destined to fall down from the pedestal during the reign of King Sri Wickrema Rajasinghe; this was the case with many chieftains. 

The king, who had fallen prey to the conspiracy hatched by John Doyley, the British Envoy, soon fell victim to liquor addiction and left the kingdom in utter confusion. There were clashes between the king and the chieftains, several of whom were arbitrarily beheaded. 
 Devendra Mullachari fled from Kandy and went into hiding for his dear life when he realised that the king had been antagonised by those envious of his recognition and fame.  

Although, he was not heard of ever since, he is survived by his magnificent architectural creations.  

Though his original name was Dingittha Appu the kings who were pleased with his prowess had awarded the former the honorific title Devendra Mulachari and allowed him to wear the costumes of Kandyan Chiefs and to carry the ornamental walking stick.

It is said that he had a son and a daughter, but they had lived among the ordinary villagers in Ambekka area for want of any royal patronage after the British annexed the Kandyan kingdom in 1915. (SS)

High fees charged for using

public toilets

The contract of levying fees from public toilets in the town has been awarded to a private company. The individuals who aren’t in a position to pay the exorbitant fees for using toilets refrain from answering calls of nature regardless of its danger to their heath. Among them are young men and women working in mercantile establishments and shops. They pointed out that they have to pay about Rs.100 for using the toilets five times a day and it amounts to Rs.3000 a month, which is a big slice of their wage.

Commenting on the issue Municipal Commissioner Indika Kumari Abesinghe said that car parks and the toilets have been leased to the private sector companies to enhance the council’s revenue. 

The public requested the political authority of the area to focus attention on these burning issues affecting a large population and to take remedial measures. 

(SS)

Exorbitant parking fees 

inconveniences residents, visitors

Meanwhile the residents of the area and the visitors to the town are facing hardship owing to the exorbitant parking fees charged by the contractor company. The rule that facilitates free parking for less than ten minutes isn’t in force now. An individual who parks his or her vehicle for a few seconds to buy a loaf of bread from the roadside boutique is liable to pay Rs.80 for parking in addition to the price of the loaf of bread! However the continual representations in this regard to the Municipal council have fallen on deaf ears. 
(SS)

“Agantuka Sathkaraya”  

programme on Nov 22

“Agantuka Sathkaraya” a programme organised by Vanitha Collective- an affiliate of Kandy Sinhala Trader Association- will be held at on November 22 at the Sampath Reception Hall at 10.30 am. 
The books on the subject will be available for a special discount.
The organisers have extended an invitation to the public for the event.
(SS)

Page compiled by J. Thilakarathne and Ravi Nagahawatte