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Piyakaru Purawara - Theth bim surakimu:
Sanctuaries, biodiversity parks for Kotte
Chamikara Weerasinghe
[Looking good]
* Project designed by Urban Development
Authority
* Plan made one year ago
* Recreational facilities for public
The Environment and Natural Resources Ministry and the Urban
Development and Sacred Areas Development Ministry have made arrangements
to add environmental features such as bird sanctuaries and biodiversity
parks in the city of Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte.
Environment and Natural Resources Minister Champika Ranawaka after
launching a project to develop the biodiversity park and bird sanctuary
at Baddegana in Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte said steps will be taken to
improve the scenic beauty of Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte under a project
to preserve the country’s urban wetlands.
The project titled Piyakaru Purawara - Theth Bim Surakimu (Urban
Beauty - Protect Wetlands) is expected to keep the ecosystems around
Diyawanna Oya in Kotte intact by proper city management.
The Environment Ministry and Urban Development Ministry will carry
out the project.
Piyakaru Purawara - Theth Bim Surakimu is designed to embellish the
city of Kotte with the nature.
The project’s land reclamation activities have been placed under the
Sri Lanka Land Reclamation and Development Board. The Project Design is
by the Urban Development Authority.
The Minister said, they made the plan a year ago but it could not be
implemented due to financial constraints.
Although Baddegana area in Kotte was to have been declared as a
Biodiversity Park and a bird sanctuary, the area was more or less
affected by invasive plants, urban garbage, increase in population,
piling up of building material, and industrialized extraction of plants
and trees in the area.
”The Baddegana bird sanctuary ecosystem is being rehabilitated to
become one of the most beautiful places, the Minister said.
Referring to the city’s physical development plan, Ranawaka said
steps will be taken to position all State institutions and departments
in Sri Jayawardenapura as the area is the country’s Administrative
capital.
”They will be positioned close to the Parliament building surrounding
the Diyawanna Oya,“ he said.
”The Presidential Secretariat too will be located near the Parliament
soon,” he said. |
