J’PURA DEVELOPMENT PLAN TO COST US $ 320 MN
Strict laws are to be imposed in the vicinity of the Diyawanna-Oya Metro Colombo Urban Development Project, which covers a wide area of the city of Sri Jayawardenapura, Kotte.
As part of these new restrictions consuming liquor, smoking and throwing garbage in parks in the vicinity of Kotte and the Bedddagana Ramparts would be banned. The Diyawanna Oya, Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte Road, Thotupola Road, School Lane and neighbouring areas too would be protected areas under this project.
The leader of the experts’ team which screened the area for hazardous material and other impurities that had an environmental impact on the parks told Daily Mirror that these laws would be imposed in order to make the area environmentally friendly. “One often sees groups of people consuming liquor along the banks of the Diyawanna-Oya while empty bottles and plastic containers are also being thrown into the river,” he recalled. He said that these hazards would affect the various species of birds that were found in the area. Some 18 migrant bird species and 34 resident bird species are said to be present in the area.
He said that this was a new project which was being funded by the World Bank and was not included in the original plan that was prepared by the J. R. Jayewardene government in the 1980s. The total cost of the projects would be US $ 320 million out of which World Bank would provide US $ 213 million. The features of the projects include maintaining waterways, constructing walkways and public toilets while there would be other recreation facilities added as well.
Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte was significant in terms of historical importance as the last King-
As part of these new restrictions consuming liquor, smoking and throwing garbage in parks in the vicinity of Kotte and the Bedddagana Ramparts would be banned
dom of Sri Lanka and also as the present administrative capital of the country. Most of the land, which is located around Parliament complex, consists of vast stretches of low-lying land.