News
Regulator tells illegal hoteliers: Beach is public property
Illegal structures and hotels on the coastal areas will be demolished after a grace period, the agency that acts as the custodian and administrator of Sri Lanka’s beaches says.
Tourists enjoying the proverbial sun, sea and sand
Director General of the Department of Coast Conservation and Coastal Resource Management, B K Prabath Chandarakeerthi said although hoteliers had agreed to remove the structures, there was not much progress.
“We will not announce a date of removal since the hoteliers seek help from influential people and protest against removal of their constructions,” he said.
He further explained that they have identified hotels that had not been approved by the department in Mirissa, Negombo, Dehiwela, and Galle.
He said 18 unapproved hotels were identified at Mirissa while 17 were found in Negombo. Twelve unauthorised hotels are on the coast between Dehiwela and Galle.
“The beaches and the coastline are public property and also government property, therefore the hoteliers have no right to build on the coastline. Even if a film is recorded, or a wedding photo shoot takes place, the parties who use the beach have to take temporary permission from the department.’’
Mr Chandrakeerthi said even a beach party should only be arranged with permission.
He said action against non-compliance is being taken to ensure safety of buildings and to reduce the damage to the coastal ecology.
Some hotels have been built on coastal land affected by the 2004 Tsunami, he said.
The department will consider amendments to the act to strengthen the laws against unapproved hotels.
There are only 100 field officers to examine illegal buildings on the coast, he said, adding that staffing should be increased.
