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.