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How to behave when visiting heritage sites
Young lovers at Viharamahadevi Park. Pic by Nilan Maligaspe
The Department of Cultural Affairs is in the process of issuing guidelines to ensure decent behaviour by people visiting heritage sites in the country.
Cultural Affairs Dept. Director Anusha Fernando said the Independence Square in Colombo 7 should be considered a respected heritage of the country and not a park for lovers.
“We have appointed a three member committee to probe into the recent incident where a couple was evicted from Independence Square last Monday for allegedly indecent behaviour.
A senior official of the Land Reclamation and Development Corporation (LRDC) who was responsible for providing security at Independence Square said guidelines for visitors will be displayed at five locations for which LRDC provide security.
Diyatha Uyana-Waters Edge, Kimbulawela-Sri Lanka Japan Friendship Mawatha, Bellanwila Park, Nugegoda Weli Park and Independence Square will be the locations where guidelines will be displayed in three languages to ensure decent behaviour at public places, LRDC Chairman Asela Iddawela said.
Referring to last week’s incident he said security guards cannot be rude to couples. They should have spoken to the couple in a tactful manner,” he said.
“The guards were transferred and warned not to repeat their uncalled for behaviour,” Mr. Iddawela said.
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe had ordered the Cultural Affairs Ministry to terminate its contract with the security provider, and remove its Director Operations.
“The Director Operations has been temporarily transferred till the inquiries are concluded,” Mr. Iddawela said.
“We have to ascertain if our security personnel at Independence Square acted in violation of the standing orders issued by the Cultural Affairs Ministry,” he said.
It was evident that the security guards, attached to a State-affiliated security company, had taken the law into their hands and given their own interpretation to the Cultural Affairs Ministry’s rules and regulations.
“We are not looking into any other places like Galle Face or Viharamahadevi Park. This issue rose only because it was a heritage site,” he said.
In the video the LRDC guards say they have been asked to chase away couples unless they are accompanied by children. Ms. Fernando said that, there is no such rule made by any institution. Each individual or couple has the freedom to sit any where they want provided they don’t exceed the limits.
The Constitution of Sri Lanka bans people from misbehaving in public. That was the reason why the security officers could act in an arbitrary manner when they evicted couples, Cultural Affairs Minister S.B Navinne said.
“Couples also use this area to take photographs on their wedding day after getting permission. That is ok,” he said.