UDA halts illegal sites in Mt.Lavinia

The Urban Development Authority ( UDA) visited the seaside area in Mount Lavinia on Tuesday morning in a bid to inspect sites where developers had submitted building permits that were expired. All these developers were instructed to stop construction immediately and obtain fresh permits if they wish to begin construction, UDA sources and residents in the area confirmed.

This came after the Business Times during the past three months highlighted the plight of the residents in this area.

"The residents of the seaside of Mount Lavinia enjoyed a quiet night on Tuesday as there was no construction work being done late into the night," a resident told the Business Times. UDA sources said that a complex at No: 30 Hotel Road was directed to stop construction as they had an issue with its documentation.

Some sites owned by Blue Ocean were asked to halt construction since their building permits had expired, they said. A resident said that Blue Ocean complex at No. 6 Alwis Place, Mt. Lavinia has a billboard stating that they are offering 15 floors to customers whereas according to road width it can only construct eight floors according to 2008- 2010 UDA Building Regulations for the Dehiwela Mt. Lavinia Municipal Council (DMMC) Area.

At No 19, Barnes Avenue Mount Lavinia, Blue Ocean has constructed eight floors now, whereas its only seven floors have been given approval by the DMMC for construction. There is a further violation here as the UDA 2008- 2020 Building Regulations for the DMMC Area only allows a maximum of five floors to be built according to the relevant road width on that particular road, the resident said.

"None of their building sites have a valid building permit when queried by the UDA," he said. UDA sources said that they will be discussing this issue with the Ministry of Megapolis officials tomorrow.