No decision on opening Maligawa road

S. M. Jiffry Abdeen Kandy south group correspondent

The Maligawa road in Kandy closed for traffic following an attack on Sri Dalada Maligawa in 1998 will not be opened right now, Central Province Chief Minister Sarath Ekanayake said.

Addressing officials and journalists on traffic congestion, environmental pollution and unauthorised structures in Kandy city at a meeting at the Passenger Transport Authority, Kandy yesterday, Ekanayake said his personal view is that this road should not be opened.

The Chief Minister said the opening the stretch of road close to Sri Dalada Maligawa will not solve the environmental pollution problem.

“We will have to devise other ways to tackle this problem,” Ekanayake said.

He reiterated that Kandy is not the most polluted city in the country.

He said: “Fuel emissions from diesel and petrol vehicles will be checked by police and action will be taken against motorists.”

The Sri Dalada Maligawa is one of the holiest places in the world. The sanctity of this sanctum must be preserved at any cost. Therefore we cannot permit vehicles to go past this holy place which could give rise to other problems, he said.

Ekanayake confirmed that no decision had been taken on the opening of the road.