News
Musical mayhem in high biodiversity area: House music party at Diyasaru park draws concerns
View(s):By Tharushi Weerasinghe and Dilushi Wijesinghe
A musical event at Diyasaru Park in Sri Jayewardenapura kottee, yesterday drew widespread criticism over the damage that the ecosystem was being exposed to. A progressive house music party organised by an event company advertised as Sky Gardens took place at the unique biological study park that is home to rare and migratory species.
The Sunday Times visited the site of the party and found an area of the park facing the road was closed to the public and shut off with metal sheets except for the stage area with the waterways and vegetation behind it.
Park management on site who refused to give their names claimed that approvals for the event came from the Land Reclamation and Development Corporation which had jurisdiction over the park. “This [allowing events to run on the park] is a part of the park’s income as the costs incurred in the management of this space is paid for by the park itself with no additional support from the government,” one official claimed.
The site of the event. Pix by Dilushi Wijesinghe
He noted that the practice of renting this space out was carried out under stipulations that were part of the contract agreement made between the LRDC and the organiser. The space also comes under the purview of the Department of Wildlife Conservation.
Waste regulating and maintaining sound levels below 65 decibels were the main rules.
When asked how the management ensured compliance, the officials claimed that it was the responsibility of the organiser. The Sunday Times measured decibel levels around the party on a mobile application called SPL Meter: dB and sound meter. Decibel levels ranged from 64 to 90+ around the party. Park management did not have a method for monitoring sound levels and claimed they could not enter the space rented by the organiser as it was not their event. The Sunday Times also observed attendees smoking cigarettes and marijuana in various parts of the park but were told by Park Management that no precautions were in place for any potential emergencies.
At the ticket booth near the event entrance, the Sunday Times spoke with a staffer “Shehan” who identified himself as an event coordinator for the company. When questioned about the sound levels at the time he claimed it was “nothing to worry about.” He also noted that the company would be more open to answering questions on Monday as the event was going on and the questions being asked were “messing up the moment.” While noting that they had the documentation for the event he insisted that the sound levels being over the regulations claimed by park officials were also with permission from the relevant authorities.
Acting Officer in charge of the Thalangama Police CI Manaweera told the Sunday Times that permission for the event was granted following consultations with five residents in the area. While no monitoring or observing to ensure compliance had been dispatched in the area, CI Manaweera claimed that he would “send someone over” following the call from the Sunday Times.
The Sunday Times measured decibel levels around the party on a mobile application called SPL Meter: dB and sound meter
Deputy General Manager of the Wetland Management Division at the SLLRDC Dr. Eng. N. S. Wijeratne who signed off on the event noted that the permission given was under strict conditions to maintain sounds at the stipulated levels. “We usually give the area that’s by the side of the road for events and do not believe there will be an impact on the environment as the ecosystem is further in – if an event happened inside it would be a different story,” said the DGM.
“The Diyasaru Park is home to over 250 species which includes flora and fauna that are endemic and endangered like the fishing cat,” said a representative from the Biodiversity Project.
She noted that regardless of the exact location of the party it is still in the vicinity of the wetlands and sound travels much further than what meets the eye.
“Progressive electronic dance music is very fast-paced and the beats per minute are higher; when you couple this with the prolonged period it will go on for, since the show is supposed to go on for hours, the impact is significant.”
The representative noted that the vibrations, being released over the permitted decibel levels, were stressful for water species as well. “Diyasaru park was initiated due to Colombo’s heavy urbanisation and the loss of endemic species that came with it, it is extremely sad that we are now compromising that goal for the sake of profit.”
The representative also observed that the authorities’ reactions were disappointing:
“When there are clear violations that those bestowed with the responsibility of stewarding these resources are ignoring it further depreciates the value these resources have.”
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