News
A danger to children
View(s):The children’s playground in Galle, the Dharmapala Park -a gift from the people of US to the people of Galle, in the aftermath of the devastating Boxing Day Tsunami- lies in a shambles. All the play equipment is damaged and presently poses a danger to children using the facility.
Story and Pix by Sirangika Lokukaravita in Galle
Residents charge that despite the children’s play-equipment being in a badly damaged condition for over a year, it has failed to attract the attention of the Galle Municipal Council (GMC) authorities, despite the park coming under their purview.
The park they say now poses a danger to the very children it is supposed to cater to, with broken equipment being held together with bits of rope and/or plank.
Even the benches in the park are broken. Despite large pieces of broken play-equipment being piled on one side of the park, authorities have still not put up sign boards warning the public against using the damaged equipment which poses a danger to children using it.
What is even worse is that the GMC continues to charge a fee of Rs. 10/- from adults who accompany children to the park!
Residents point out that when entrance fees are not charged to enter the Viharamahadevi Park in Colombo, it is a joke for authorities at the GMC to charge a fee to enter the dilapidated park.
However GMC Commissioner Wasana P. Gunaratne claimed a plan exists to to completely refurbish the Dharmapala Park under the World Bank funded Strategic Urban Development Plan for the Galle town.
She added the entrance fee of Rs. 10/-was charged to prevent undesirables such as drug addicts and beggars entering the park.
Broken railings damaged flooring and an innocent child
Pieces of plank tied to posts have replaced railings
A memento to Sri Lanka's ingratitude
One side of the park is filled with damaged equipment
The condition of these benches speaks volumes regarding maintenance carried out at the Park
The sad and dilapidated condition of the park summed up in a picture