24 Oct 2013 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
An unprecedented number of foreign and local tourists are visiting the historic Hamilton Canal since it was developed. The canal - which was begun during the Dutch rule of Sri Lanka’s Maritime Provinces to transport goods and completed in 1802 under the British Colonial Government - has today become a source of sustainable livelihood for many people in its vicinity. The newly-developed canal was opened to the public on the 2nd of August after being developed in an environmentfriendly manner under Minister Basil Rajapaksa’s guidance. Until then it had been a highly polluted waterway and a source of ill-health for decades. Today nearly 8,000 people visit the canal area on weekends and it has become a major attraction for foreign tourists, according to a Western Province Tourism Ministry spokesman.
The Moratuwa University’sTown Planning Studies section prepared the Hamilton Canal development plan which was implemented by the Economic Development Ministry. Under the plan’s First Stage a distance of eight kilometres from Negombo Lagoon up to Dandugum Oya river delta was developed. Under the second stage a distance of 11km is scheduled to be developed. A part of this - an extent of 3km from Hekiththa on the Kelani River in the Wattala Pradeshiya Sabha area to Elakanda has already been done.
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