The site used by protesters at Galle Face for more than four months could be used for public events only with the permission of the Urban Development Authority (UDA) in future, a senior official of the Authority said yesterday.
Accordingly a protest site declared for public protest by former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa will no longer be available.
Director General of the UDA Prasad Ranaweera told Timesonline they hope to close the area belonging to the UDA for a short period for renovation and thereafter open it for the general public.
“However no activity and structures will be allowed unless prior approval is obtained from the UDA,” he said.
The UDA areas spans around 1500 square meters.
He said they were inviting those involved in the protest campaigns to help to renovate the area , but if no support is received they would go ahead with the renovation using their own funds. He said the last time they renovated the area it cost Rs 3.5 million.
Meanwhile the protesters who occupied the area for 127 days cleared all their tents by Friday evening .
A Sri Lankan man was apprehended at Suvarnabhumi airport for attempting to smuggle wildlife out of the country after three ball pythons were found hidden in his underwear, the Bangkok post reported.
Read these and more on tomorrow’s edition of the Sunday Times
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