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| Thursday, 17 June 2004 |
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Our Heritage sites not for sale by Florence Wickramage Foreigners will no longer be allowed to purchase lands and houses within World Heritage and Archaeologically important sites in Sri Lanka as regulations will soon be formulated to protect these valuable sites and to prevent them from falling into alien hands. Cultural Affairs and National Heritage Minister Vijitha Herath said he will initiate action soon to formulate regulations to this effect following a recent fact-finding visit to the Galle Fort World Heritage site. The Minister added that he will initiate action to re-introduce the 100% tax levied on foreigners purchasing land and houses locally, which restriction was removed by the previous government. Residents and the Members of the Society for Protection of Galle Fort Heritage Site informed the Minister that more than 50 archaeologically important houses within the Galle Fort had been purchased by foreigners. Some of these houses had been renovated completely defacing the Dutch Architecture which had been the pride of these ancient dwelling places. Minister Vijitha Herath promised residents that he will take action to take back Sri Lankan artifacts plundered by the Portuguese which are now being exhibited in Museums in Lisbon. The Minister also said that he will look into the situation where foreigners had bought beach-frontage houses in the South and which had been converted to "foreigners only resorts" complete with swimming pools and casinos. |
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