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What about the big hotels on illegally acquired lands, ask residents of Sigiriya
View(s):Pix and text by Kanchana Kumara Ariyadasa
New constructions will not be allowed in the restricted area surrounding Sigiriya, while unauthorised structures will also be removed. This follows a decision taken by relevant stakeholders, including the Archaeology Department, the Central Cultural Fund, and other state institutions.
The restricted area includes a 200-yard zone where any type of business is not allowed to ensure a hassle-free environment for visitors to the Sigiriya rock, while another 200 yards has been marked as a sensitive area where permission is necessary for any activities.
Many residents make a living from tourism associated businesses
However, Lionel Gunasekara, president of the organisation to protect Sigiriya, questioned why no action has been taken by the Archaeology Department or the Central Cultural Fund against mass-scale land encroachments and those who have gone on to build hotels on illegally acquired lands.
Hoping that a similar situation would not occur in Sigiriya, a resident in the area, P.A.T. Perera, said that in the case of the Rangiri Dambulu Raja Maha Viharaya, the state acquired some surrounding land on the grounds that otherwise it would be removed from the world heritage sites, but eventually the lands were leased or sold to the private sector.
He also said small-scale traders who put up cadjan huts in the Sigiriya area to provide facilities to foreigners are penalised with legal action against them, but no action is taken against those who put up hotels illegally.
Residents fear that restrictions around Sigiriya will be implemented initially, but eventually the lands will be handed over to the private sector.
Residents have also called on the government to investigate how permission had been given for hotels to come up.
They said villagers were happy to provide unconditional support to protect Sigiriya, as many of them make a living from tourism in the area, but insisted that authorities take action on large-scale hotels that function in violation of the law.
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