President gets tough with coastline polluters
Athapattu BANDARA
Issues
* Wastage from unauthorized
constructions, hotels
* Unauthorized buildings along
coastline
President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday directed Sri Lanka Coast
Conservation Department officials to take legal action against persons
polluting the coastline and constructing unauthorized buildings along
the coastline.
The President made this observation during a discussion on coastal
zone management and development at Temple Trees yesterday.
Coast Conservation Department officials pointed out to President
Rajapaksa that the coastline is at a risk of being polluted, due to the
exposure to wastage from unauthorized constructions and hotels close to
the coastal belt.
They pointed out that 24 percent of Sri Lanka�s population and 25
percent of total lands belong to coastal areas.
They said that important economic activities, including 90 percent of
those in the fisheries industry and 90 percent of those in the tourism
industry depend on the coastline.
The discussion also focused on proper management of coastline
resources and environmental systems.
Sea erosion and lack of access routes to the sea belt and poor
facilities for tourists for entertainment were also discussed.
Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapkasa took over the
responsibility to create access roads to the coastlines under the
purview of the Economic Development Ministry.
President Rajapaksa also discussed fisheries harbours in the country
and instructed officials to develop the Peduruthuduwa Fisheries harbour.
He also directed officials to offer facilities and proper places to
the business community connected to the tourism industry along the
coastline. The officials pointed out to the President the programmes
that have been earmarked to construct coastal gardens and to arrange the
coastline as a green belt.
Minister Dayashritha Tissera and Defence Secretary Gotabhaya
Rajapaksa also participated. |
