News
Parakrama Samudraya: Walking path project to go ahead despite protests, says UDA
The Urban Development Authority and the Irrigation Department are to go ahead with the construction of a walking path on the banks of the Parakarama Samudraya despite objections.
UDA Director General N.P.K. Ranaweera told the Sunday Times there were no basis for protests and therefore they would continue to build a 2km-long pathway along the bank. He said the protesters would be briefed on the project to clear their doubts.
Mr Ranaweera said the project which was being carried out by the Irrigation Department had got the District Development Committee (DDC)’s approval during the previous government.
“The stones used to form the ‘Ralapanawa’ (Stone liners on the bank of the reservoir to avoid erosion due to water waves) have been removed, but when this pathway is put in place the tank wall will be strengthened as its height will go up,” he said.
He pointed out that the construction was actually not a jogging track but a walking path similar to a sidewalk to allow pedestrians to move as there is no sidewalk for people to move alongside the road. He said that this addition would fortify the tank while improving its aesthetic value.
Mr Ranaweera said that the construction work is scheduled to take place this year as the planning was done last year and Rs 34 million was passed to carry out the project.
The Archeology Department Director Prof Anura Manatunga said its officials who took part at the DDC meeting raised no objection as they were of the view the project would not undermine the archeological value of the tank.
DDC chairman and Polonnaruwa district parliamentary representative Amarakeerthi Athukorala too said even though the removal of the ‘ralapanawa’ was stopped and the construction was temporarily halted on Friday, an immediate DDC meeting was held where it was decided to construct the 20 meters of the pathway to demonstrate to the protesters that no harm would be done to the tank.
However, Buddhist monks in Polonnaruwa objected to the project pointing out that changes to the structure of the tank might weaken the strength of the tank wall and cause a disaster.
Venerable Sri Shakya Bimbaramadhipathi Yathihalagala Upathissa Thera said removing the Ralapanawa was a risky move as it propped up the tank wall, especially when the tank reached its peak capacity during the rainy season.
He said that he observed that cracks had already appeared in the area under construction, and added that if any damage were to occur to the tank wall, people at low-lying areas would be affected.