19 August 2022 12:00 am Views - 99
By Chaturanga Samarawickrama
Necessary legal action will be taken to recover the damage caused to the Galle Face Green due to the long stay of the activists, Urban Development and Housing Minister Prasanna Ranatunga said.
This group of people who claimed to be activists had entered the Galle Face Green area illegally and had engaged in illegal activities. “It was reported that an illegal residence has been established in it and even the addresses have been taken to confirm that residence,” the Minister said. The Galle Face area where the protesters were staying is public property. Establishing unauthorised construction under the Urban Development Authority Act No. 41 of 1971 is prohibited. The Minister said a gazette notification was issued announcing the Galle Face Green as an urban development area.
Therefore, if a temporary construction is carried out in such an urban development area, a permit should be obtained in accordance with Section 8(A)1 of the Urban Development Authority (Amendment) Act No. 04 of 1982.