How a five-storey house started from the bottom

The owner of the collapsed five- storey building, Anura Lewke, a former Basnayake Nilame, had obtained approval for the building in Bhuwelikada in 2007 stating he intended to build a basement and one floor, according to the records now in possession of the Urban Development Authority.

The Bhuwelikada area has become increasingly popular among local and foreign tourists visiting Kandy. Guesthouses and rest rooms are mushrooming in the area.

The Director of the Urban Development Authority (UDA) in Kandy, N.A.S.N. Nissanka, said only a detailed investigation by qualified engineers could reveal the cause of the collapse.

“The first application for this building was made in 2006 to the Kandy Municipal Council’s (KMC) planning committee. In 2007, approval was given by the planning committee, where the UDA has a representative, for a basement and one floor.

“Then in 2009, another application was made for a basement and two floors. Then, in 2016, another application was made for a basement and two other floors,” he said.

Each time, approval for the building work was granted by the municipal council.

Mr. Nissanka said the problem lay with many applications being submitted with the basement being mentioned in all of them.

“The KMC’s planning committee should also be held responsible,” the UDA Director said. “There is a shortage of staff to monitor such constructions but, then, this building stood out prominently, being a huge, five- storeyed building.

“It is also a concern that the KMC granted approval for another basement on top of a basement. This is highly suspicious,” he said.

The UDA has reportedly sent its findings to the Presidential Secretariat.

Central Province Governor Lalith B. Gamage said plans are underway to identify all unauthorised buildings or parts of buildings.