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Buildings coming up in city without approval from KMC: Kandy Mayor tells Champika
Kandy Mayor Kesara Sennayake makes a point while on a city tour with Minister Champika Ranawaka
On a request by Kandy Mayor Kesara Sennayake Megapolis Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka has instructed officials that no building applications should be processed by the Urban Development Authority in Colombo, without prior approval from the Kandy Muncipal Council (KMC).
Mr. Sennayake told The Sunday Times that he had shown the Minister the damage done to the heritage city by constructions coming up in an ad hoc manner without proper and prior approval from the KMC. He said, that after taking office as Mayor, he has been trying to build a green city that would enhance the cultural heritage of the city and draw more visitors to it.
He said he was appalled at what was happening, with direct orders coming from Colombo without the knowledge of the Council. He said he was able to make the Minister realise the urgent need for building guidelines in Kandy. Taking the Kandy Lake as an example, he said the ancient kings built the city giving value to aesthetics and he was responsible to the ratepayers of the city to preserve its beauty.
The Mayor said recently he had taken steps in concurrence with Governor Maithree Gunaratne to remove bill boards and posters that were defacing the city. He said steps have been taken to put up advertisements in special places if the need arose.
Mr Senanayke said that he is aware that the D.S.library needed expansion and that an auditorium, car park and a fully equipped fire brigade was coming up in the area.
He said a new nine storey shopping complex with a car park is coming up opposite Girls’ High school.
The Mayor said that during his term of office, his one ambition is to bring back the glory of this historic city — one that its citizens could be proud of and one that would have a cleaner environment.