Coast Conservation Department suspends removal of 17 illegal structures in Mirissa

By Charumini de Silva 

Coast Conservation Department (CCD) Director General Prabath Chandrakeerthi yesterday said that they had decided to suspend the removal of 17 identified unauthorised establishments in the Mirissa coastal belt until further notice.

“A number of owners of these 17 establishments have informed the department that that they will voluntarily remove their unauthorised constructions and have sought more time. Thereby we have decided to suspend the demolition that was scheduled for today for a couple of weeks,” he told Daily FT.  

Nevertheless, Daily FT learns that political influence is pressuring the CCD to stop the removal of these illegal constructions on the Mirissa coastal belt. 

Chandrakeerthi said they would have to consider the procedures of abolishing all identified unauthorised buildings in Negombo on 8 May, as well as in Uswetakeiyawa and Dehiwala areas that were scheduled to be carried out during this month.

Previously the Director General pointed out that if the department failed to perform the demolishing of unlawful structures, they would have to answer the audit queries by the Public Accountant Department in the Parliament.

When contacted, Tourism Development Minister John Amaratunga affirmed that he was unaware of the situation and would comment on the matter after inquiring from the President, who is in-charge of the department, today (1).

Amaratunga last week stressed that it was President Maithripala Sirisena who had the power to remove or allow the unauthorised structures built along Mirissa beach area, insisting that no one else could intervene. 

“It is the President who is in charge of the Coast Conservation Department (CDD). Only the President can stop it; I cannot stop it, nor can anyone else. If the President directs it to stop, then the CCD will stop, if not it will continue,” he told journalists last week in Colombo.

Provincial Councils and Local Government Minister Faiszer Musthapha issuing a statement on 22 April opposed the Coastal Conservation Department’s decision to remove unauthorised constructions in Mirissa, claiming it was arbitrary.

Denying the allegation made by the Minster that the decision was arbitrary, Chandrakeerthi emphasised that these unauthorised structures were identified around three years ago, when the department made complaints against them and obtained demolition orders.

It was also pointed out that all these individuals were given an opportunity to appeal within seven days of receiving the letters and thereafter a final review by the Ministry identified the 17 structures were illegal and should be demolished.

Later, Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) Chairman Kavan Ratnayaka clarified comments from Minister Musthapha to the effect that the latter was applying political pressure against the implementation of corrective legal measures against the unlawful establishments on Mirissa Beach.

Ratnayake noted that the Minister’s concern was with regard to the livelihoods of the people who fall outside of the regulatory guidelines. His request was that the SLTDA and the partner agencies take this into consideration when applying the law.

Industry sources on condition of anonymity said that it was another pathetic instance where political influence had taken the upper hand and encouraged perpetrators. 

“For the first time in history, the Government’s reaction came from the topmost officials in the wake of the assault and alleged sexual harassment in the tourist hotspot of Mirissa. Now when the officials are acting on it, political pressure is stopping them. Political influence is only putting the country in backward gear and further encouraging perpetrators.”