Mirihana marshlands being filled by organised groups

A land rich in ecological biodiversity in Mirihana area and earmarked for a bird park has now become a dumping ground for construction debris and other waste materials

(Pics by Samantha Perera) 

Despite repeated complaints to the Urban Development Authority regarding these illegal land reclamations, no action has been taken

A group of individuals, alleged to be drug addicts, is scavenging iron, copper and wire from the waste. Locals maintain that their frequent visits to the area are a major nuisance

Under the former Gotabaya Rajapaksa Government, 37 acres, 1 rood (Rood is an English unit of area equal to one quarter of an acre or 10,890 square feet, exactly 1,011.7141056 m2), and 20.44 perches of land from Mirihana North, Mirihana South, Udahamulla East, and Pragathipura zones in the Maharagama urban area were designated for the development of a bird park. In 2022, residents complained that this decision would result in the displacement of approximately 20 to 35 families from the area, leaving them ‘homeless’. There were around 20-35 low-income families residing on land owned by the Urban Development Authority, and some even had documents supporting ownership for the land.

By Prageeth Sampath Karunathilaka 

The boundary zone of this area is located in Madiwela and Jayewardenepura Kotte, and the land is owned by the Urban Development Authority. According to the Urban Development Authority, the above mentioned land was allocated to a private construction company’ to build the bird park. This decision was made in 2022 following a proposal submitted by the Prime Minister, who was also the Minister of Urban Development and Housing at the time, and it subsequently received Cabinet approval. It was decided to lease this piece of land to the aforementioned company for a period of 30 years to initiate a bird park project, handling planning, financial resource allocation, construction and the implementation of the project.

There were discussions about the project being a Build-Own-Transfer (BOT) project, with plans to return it to the government after 30 years upon completion. However, the official document signed in this regard did not clearly specify this. Proposals were invited under a competitive procurement process, and the Cabinet-appointed Negotiating Committee ultimately decided to award the lease to the private construction company for a period of 30 years.

This area is rich in ecological biodiversity and Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte sanctuary is legally protected under several Acts passed by Parliament. Under Sub-section 2(2) of the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance No. 2 of 1937, a total of 449 hectares (1,110 acres) was designated as the Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte Sanctuary through Gazette No. 331/8, issued on 9 January 1985. According to Sub-section 2(2) of the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance, as last amended by Act No. 22 of 2009, engaging in any activity that harms wildlife or disrupts the wetland ecosystem within a declared sanctuary is unlawful under Sub-section 7(1)(a). 

A person found guilty of such an offense, upon conviction in a Magistrate’s Court under Section 63 of the Ordinance, may face a fine ranging from Rs. 15,000 to Rs. 50,000, imprisonment for a term of two to five years, or both, as stipulated in Sub-section 10(d) of.

Several Acts have been enacted to protect the Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte Sanctuary. However, despite these legal protections, permission was granted to the private construction company to construct a bird park during the administration of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. Residents of Madiwela said that this decision was influenced by a businessman from Pitakotte who had close ties with the then government. This businessman handed over the project to another businessman, with political ties with the former regime, in clear violation of environmental regulations. Environmentalists and scholars have strongly opposed the project, warning that it threatens the biodiversity of the ecosystem.

Officials justify destruction

This ecosystem serves as a passage for water from swamps and wetlands, facilitating both drainage and water retention. Plans to establish a bird park by destroying this protected area appear to be driven by political interests. As part of the project, ecological zones outside the designated bird sanctuary, including well-cultivated paddy lands, were indiscriminately filled and reclaimed. Additionally, sources within the Urban Development Authority confirmed that the area between Muruththettuwa Road in Pitakotte and Buwanekaba Mawatha in Mirihana was selected for the construction of vehicle accommodation facilities and walking paths as part of the bird park project. 

As a result, long-cultivated paddy fields and canals—part of a sensitive ecological zone—were haphazardly filled to accommodate future plans driven by political interests. Meanwhile, former President Ranil Wickremesinghe proposed relocating the President’s House and the Presidential Secretariat Office from Colombo Fort to Sri Jayewardenepura Parliament in Kotte, citing national security concerns.

Accordingly, plans were developed to construct the Presidential Secretariat Office on a 9-acre plot occupied by Madiwela National Sandalwood Garden and to use the land originally designated for the Madiwela Bird Sanctuary to build the President’s House. The National Sandalwood Garden project, launched in July 2021, involved the planting of 1,000 sandalwood trees at a cost of hundreds of millions of rupees in public funds.

During the Aragalaya movement (Protest), when protesters occupied the President’s House and the Presidential Secretariat, sensitive security information, including photographs and videos of key security positions, was widely shared through mobile phones and other technological means, exposing them to the international community. In response, security chiefs alerted senior government officials, leading to the suspension of the bird park project.

Although the bird park project has been halted, the reclamation of paddy lands continues unabated, disregarding all legal requirements. Residents reported that if one visits the Mirihana area in Kotte on a public holiday, it is evident that these lands are being forcibly filled using organised groups. Despite repeated complaints to the Urban Development Authority regarding these illegal land reclamations, no action has been taken. Locals further alleged that some UDA officials are actively assisting in these activities. This land, which is part of a vital ecological system, is now being used for the disposal of household garbage and waste materials. Certain UDA officials are even justifying this destruction by claiming that the land belongs to the authority. By allowing drains to be blocked and failing to intervene, these officials are enabling the degradation of this sensitive ecological zone. Consequently, the Urban Development Authority continues to turn a blind eye to the severe environmental damage being inflicted on these lands.

Until recently, these lands, owned by the Urban Development Authority, were lush green paddy fields frequented by various birds and other animals. However, human encroachment and garbage dumping have now destroyed this ecological system. 

An examination of the area between Murutthettuwa Road and Buwanekaba Road in Mirihana provides clear evidence to support these claims. This area is a swamp and it was initially planned to transform it into an eco-friendly space with walking paths and ponds. However, after the bird park project was halted, the land was illegally seized by an unseen force, using mob influence. Residents of Madiwela said that certain officials of the Urban Development Authority (UDA) are well aware of who is behind this takeover.  

Garbage is dumped on landfilled areas, even though Maharagama Municipal Council has designated a different location for waste disposal. As a result, a garbage dump now exists within the ecological zone. A group of individuals, alleged to be drug addicts, is scavenging iron, copper and wire from the waste. Locals maintain that their frequent visits to the area are a major nuisance. These individuals burn wires and other plastic-based electronic devices throughout the night to extract copper and other metals, forcing residents to inhale toxic fumes. Many residents in the area also described the situation as a mental burden.

Residents have repeatedly lodged complaints with the local government institutions and the Urban Development Authority regarding this severe environmental crisis. However the authorities are yet to take any action to resolve the issue. 

“Sometimes, when electrical wires and appliances are burnt, the smell becomes unbearable. We can tell when strong chemicals are being burned because of the overpowering smell. When our homes fill with this smoke, it feels like we are living in gas chambers,” is how a mother from the area underscore her distress.

Residents also reported that their concerns have been ignored by the Grama Niladhari despite multiple complaints being made. The issue has been raised at official meetings held at the Maharagama Divisional Secretariat with local government officials and Grama Niladhari officers. However, complaints about the illegal land reclamation continue to be disregarded, according to residents.

Community members further revealed that when they brought up the matter at meetings attended by UDA officials, the discussions were diverted to unrelated topics. Officials either claimed ignorance of the issue or made excuses to avoid addressing it. A local official from the Maharagama division, who wished to remain anonymous, shared the following information.

He confirmed that residents have complained about outsiders bringing garbage in three-wheelers and motorcycles at midnight and dumping it in the area. Additionally, the site has now become a dumping ground for construction debris and other waste materials.

Residents also added that they contacted the Sri Lanka Police emergency hotline (119) regarding a severe disturbance one night, but there had been no response from the law enforcement officers.

A farmer who has cultivated paddy fields in this area for years stated that he was denied permission by the Urban Development Authority to continue farming. He was told that the land was designated for an upcoming development project. He pointed out that while the authorities have prohibited paddy cultivation, they have allowed numerous illegal activities to take place.

“We voted for this government hoping that at least the politicisation of state institutions would change. But nothing has changed. The destruction of government lands continues,” a group of frustrated residents from Mirihana echoed in one voice.

Development Division hasn’t received complaints 

This newspaper attempted to contact the Chairman and the Director General of the Urban Development Authority regarding this environmental issue, but we were unable to obtain any response from them. This writer then tried reaching the officer in charge of the Mirihana precinct at the UDA office in Pitakotte, but our calls went unanswered. However, an officer from the Development Division of the UDA stated that the Chairman had not received any complaints regarding the issue. The officer further mentioned that even if a complaint had been made, the Chairman had not instructed to carry out an investigation. The female official also suggested that this newspaper should channel all inquiries to the Lands Division, but refused to disclose the details of the contact person there.