The sad situation at a popular recreational park

The Wetland Park, Nugegoda is one of the busiest and most popular parks patronised by people of all age. It is an ideal location for jogging, brisk walks and other forms of physical exercises.

However, to the dismay of visitors, the washrooms for males and females have been under lock and key for the past two weeks with a notice by the UDA stating they were compelled to close it indefinitely until a replacement cleaner is found. What a ludicrous explanation for an institution like the UDA!

The inability on the part of the UDA to provide an uninterrupted access to the washrooms speaks volumes of its inefficiency and indifference.

Elders are compelled to answer nature’s call after exercising due to their age. Some are diabetic patients who cannot wait till they return home. Many elderly ladies have stopped coming due to this lack of sanitary facilities.

If the UDA cannot provide a satisfactory solution in the foreseeable future, we the users of the park are ready to bear the cost of the wages of the cleaner, until a permanent solution is made. Alternatively, a nominal fee could be charged from the visitors and surely it would be a sizable income for the cleaner.

The Sri Lanka Low Lying Reclamation Development Board (SLRDC) and the Kotte Municipal Council (KMC) should also take action in restoring this facility in consultation with the UDA.

Reference should also be made to another hazard – a broken wooden bridge in the children’s park. It has been in a dilapidated condition for the past few months. The UDA has not felt any urgency to display even a warning board, if not cordoning off the area barring children from entering until repairs are effected.

Over to you – Chairmen of the UDA, SLLRDC and KMC to take urgent action to rectify these problems.

Athula Ranasinghe

Nugegoda