Kandy Lake round needs a total overhaul

The Kandy authorities responsible for the day-to-day maintenance of the Kandy Lake Round should realize that there is an urgent need to carry out repairs and install proper lighting to make the road safe and pleasant for locals and the ever-increasing number of tourists coming to Kandy.

At present, it is not pleasant, safe or healthy to walk round the lake, especially after nightfall. The pavement slabs are uneven and dangerous to walk on. The lake round is inadequately illuminated, and some areas are in total darkness. There have been instances of necklace-grabbing and other criminal activities at night. Many women avoid the lake round after dusk.

Those visiting Kandy want to pay homage to the Maligawa and take a walk round the lake, at least halfway, to enjoy the beautiful scenery and the cool breezes blowing off the lake.

Unlike the Maligawa side, the opposite side of the lake is in total darkness at night. During the day the road is congested with traffic, some belching black smoke. One wonders how such vehicles pass tests for road worthiness. There are four schools by the lake and thousands of children walk along the lake morning and afternoon. They too are exposed to the noxious gases given off by these vehicles.

Kandy Lake faces the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic (Dalada Maligawa), a world heritage site revered by Buddhists all over the world.

Between 1810 and 1812, King Sri Wickrema Rajasinghe converted a paddy field into the lake by building a dam across a brook to catch water flowing into the Mahaveli river. The island he built in the middle of the lake and the bathing facility for the royal household still stand. We should preserve his gift to the nation so that future generations too can enjoy and admire his initiative.

The Irrigation Department is supposed to maintain the lake. Even though some work has been done to strengthen the bunds and improve the water quality, there is no regular clearing of dirt and debris and other material discarded by careless passers-by. When the water level goes down, you see layers of dead leaves deposited over a long period.

The number of fish in the lake is a test of the quality of the water. More needs to be done. Polythene bags, bottles and dead leaves should be removed periodically. The police should check vehicles that

APPRECIATIONS

belch out dirty smoke in order to make the lake round safe and environmentally friendly.

A road-building programme is underway in Kandy, and by next year there should be a solution to the traffic problem. For years, Kandy has been one of the most congested cities in Sri Lanka. Kandy is the hill capital of Sri Lanka, and the Dalada Maligawa and the lake are important historical sites and landmarks. Soon there will an airstrip and more people will visit the city.

It is up to the authorities and all of us to make Kandy a clean, tidy and safe city – a place tourists will urge their friends and relatives back home to visit.

The time has come for a complete and comprehensive overhaul of the lake round.

Kandy