Buildings in Galle Fort, owned by foreigners, in dispute

More than 100 buildings within the Galle Fort premises, which come within the purview of the Galle Heritage Foundation, are owned by foreigners, a senior official of the Galle Heritage Foundation said.

“The market value of land within the Fort is now about Rs.17 million a perch and several blocks of lands are subject to legal action due to disputed possession. They have also been sold to foreigners through touts,” he said.

He said several foreigners who purchased land in the Galle Fort were facing land disputes.

The official pointed out that about 400 old buildings, that date back to the Dutch and the British Period, were located in the Galle Fort and more than 100 of them had been purchased by foreigners to run tourist hotels and restaurants.

He said 37 Government Institutions were still housed in the old buildings and that the Courts Complex, two popular schools, the DIG’S Office, Archaeological Department Office, the RDA Office, Tea Small Holding Development Office, Motor Vehicle Examiner’s Office, Housing Development Authority Office, and several bank branches were among them.

“The population in the Galle Fort had declined in large numbers. The Archaeological Department and the Urban Development Authority had filed actions against several individuals, who caused damage to the heritage buildings,” he said.

He said several institutions in the Galle Fort premises would be shifted to other locations soon.