Dy Minister orders halt to constructions in Sigiriya
Chaminda PERERA
Higher Education Deputy Minister Nandimithra Ekanayake yesterday
ordered the authorities to halt all constructions within the Sigiriya
Archaeological boundaries with immediate effect.
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Deputy Minister Ekanayake |
The Deputy Minister made this order when he met representatives of
two organizations on President Mahinda Rajapaksa's directive. These two
organizations launched protests over the unauthorized constructions
within the Sigiriya Archaeological boundaries.
Deputy Minister Ekanayake together with Archaeological Department
Director General and Cultural Triangle officials discussed the situation
with villagers and organization representatives.
The villagers and the representatives of the two organizations
pointed out that the construction of sanitary facilities near the Lion
Foot would affect the archaeological interest of the Sigiriya Fortress
which has been declared a world heritage site by UNESCO. They informed
the Deputy Minister that the Sigiriya rock has been drilled in several
places to carry water pipes to the place.
They added that the area would be polluted if this construction is
allowed. He directed the villagers and organization representatives to
put forward alternative proposals in respect of the place where this
sanitary facility should be constructed.
The Deputy Minister said he would not allow to start construction of
sanitary facilities near the Lion Foot nor any other places in the
archaeological boundary and directed villagers to make alternative
proposals. Parliamentarian Lakshman Wasantha Perera also participated.
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