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Coastal eyesore
By Mahangu Weerasinghe
Marine Drive, Colombo's coastal highway runs from Ramakrishna Road in Wellawatte, up to Milagiriya Avenue in Bambalapitiya. To a busy commuter, it comes as a welcome alternative to the Galle Road during rush hour.

The scenic oceanfront, with the cool sea breeze makes the road an ideal destination for a picturesque drive. With much of the beach that runs parallel to the road being rocky, many weekend joggers also use the new highway for their exercise routines.

With the area surrounding the highway being increasingly used however, residents report that many squatters have settled on the beach.

"Marine Drive is the only road in Colombo that runs close to the sea, making it one of the most scenic routes in the city," said one concerned resident. "We want to make sure that it stays this way, not just for us but for all the people of the city. The shacks on the beachfront are not only an eyesore but are contributing to the spread of vice as well."

The Sunday Times spoke to the Director General of the Urban Development Authority, Prasanna Silva to find out who is responsible for maintaining the highway surroundings. "There are four bodies that can take action on this - the RDA, the Municipal Council, the Railways Department and the UDA," said the Director General.

"In fact, the Railway Department removed a number of squatters in the Wellawatta area recently," said Mr. Silva. "Other departments, including the UDA are continually looking in to the matter," he stressed.

Residents however, have another story to tell. "No action has been taken by the authorities to counter this problem," said a resident who wished to remain anonymous. "If at all, there has been an increase, not a decrease of squatters."

"There are elements unsuitable for a residential area," said another resident, referring to a poultry slaughterhouse that was operating in the area. "They kill the birds and dump the leftovers, like chicken necks in the nearby canal," he said.

"Many of my neighbours also say that the beachfront shacks, although seemingly shops by day, are in fact brothels by night," said a resident. "Some of them have even seen prostitutes in the area.

"Several small businesses are also taking advantage of the beach front," said a resident. "The mass drying of fish is taking place and in some seasons the smell is just unbearable,"he said.

Most squatters were seen on the stretch of road between the Ramakrishna road end and the Wellawatte railway station.Many of the makeshift dwellings contributed to the spread of dirt and garbage in the area. In one place in particular, there was a mound of garbage right next to a sign advocating the preservation of the coast.

Interestingly, the Bambalapitiya side of the road did not seem to have many makeshift dwellings. "All the shops on the Bambalapitiya stretch of the road have been here for many years," said one shopkeeper.

When asked about vice in the area, the trader pointed across towards Wellawatte, saying that all the unsavoury elements operated on the other stretch of road. "We don't allow any of them to come to this side of the station. They started to build their shacks a little over a year ago but we never allowed them to construct on our side," explained the shopkeeper.

With the development of Marine Drive now in its second stage past Milagiriya Avenue and towards the city, it remains to be seen whether the authorities will make efforts to maintain the surroundings or turn a blind eye to what seems to be a growing problem.

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