The estimated damages done to the Galle Face Green by the ‘Aragalaya’ protesters amounts to around Rs.4.9 Million, the Urban Development Authority in a statement said yesterday. The UDA had made this observation citing an assessment report, which had calculated the damage done to the Galle Face Green by the protestors.
According to the report, Rs. 150,000 has to be spent to restore the said area and Rs.4.7 Million to place the natural grass turf.
UDA sources observed that subject minister Prasanna Ranatunga has given instructions to charge the above mentioned amount from the protestors.
The UDA release further states, “For about 3 months, the group of protesters occupied the area around Galle Face without permission, demanding former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to resign. After Gotabaya Rajapaksa stepped down, the Court informed the activists to leave the place to which they had to consent.”
“The Galle Face area where the protesters were occupying is public property. The area where illegal constructions were set up, in terms of Section 3(1) of the Urban Development Authority Act No. 41 of 1971, belongs to the Colombo Municipal Council Jurisdiction area. The Special Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka No.4/1 dated 30/09/1978 has declared the area as an urban development area.”
“If any development activity or temporary construction is carried out in an urban development area, a permit must be obtained in terms of Section 8(A)1 of the Urban Development Authority (Amendment) Act No. 04 of 1982. But the protestors have trespassed into the area and committed many atrocities.
The right of the public to freely use the area has also been hindered due to the fact that many unauthorised structures have been built in the same area. All these actions are in violation of the Urban Development Act. Accordingly, the Urban Development Authority has been empowered to take action against such action,” the statement further said.
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