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| Friday, 28 January 2005 |
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Politics | |
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| Buffer zone gets Cabinet approval by Manjula Fernando The Cabinet on Wednesday decided to fully adhere to the 100 metre buffer zone rule in general, agreeing to make a case by case study with regard to special situations concerning hotels. Finance Minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama said when the buffer zone issue was taken up at the Cabinet meeting on a proposal by the Tourism Ministry it was decided that special attention should be paid to the hotel sector which suffered heavily due to the tsunami. The Cabinet has also decided that the structures within the 100 meter zone which survived the tsunami will not be subjected to the rule although risking future government assistance. A re-evaluation of this law at Cabinet level was proposed considering the impact it may have on the already battered hotel sector. A Finance Ministry spokesman said certain fisheries and tourism projects which has received the Government nod prior to the tsunami will be allowed to continue but will be stripped off any government assistance in the future. At an earlier press briefing Presidential Advisor and TAFRAN Director Mano Tittawella' said the Government will review this buffer zone law on a sectoral basis with a view to explore exceptions for industries. The three (tier) buffer zone which applies from 0-100 metres, 100-300 metres and 300-1000 metres was gazetted last week after the tsunami devastated a 822 metre stretch of land from the southern, eastern and northern coastal belt killing over 30,000. |
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