News
Tourism support centre falls by the wayside
View(s):By Kanchana Kumara Ariyadasa
A tourist promotion project launched a decade ago in Habarana has today become a white elephant, abandoned halfway and left to decay in the jungle despite millions of rupees in public funds being spent on it.
The Tourist Information Centre, constructed in the middle of Habarana town along the Dambulla Habarana road, was built with the aim of providing facilities for tourists visiting the popular North Central tourism zone.
However, what remains now are neglected buildings and structures overtaken by the forest, with residents saying the project is nothing more than a waste of public funds.
Visitors can still see the remains of what was once designed as an environmentally friendly tourist facility, including large buildings, swimming pools, memorial grounds, lecture halls and accommodation complexes.
According to a project concept report submitted by the North Central Province Ministry of Tourism on January 8, 2014, the Habarana Tourism Promotion Project was initiated by
then Chief Minister
Peshala Jayaratne.
The cost estimate for the project was 50,000,000 rupees. Of this, 300,000 rupees was allocated for selecting the site, preparing plans and obtaining approvals, while 49,700,000 rupees was proposed for construction and completion of the buildings.
The project was established on land belonging to a closed asbestos pipe manufacturing factory, covering about five acres, situated beside the Dambulla Habarana main road within the Pulugaswewa Divisional Secretariat.
On April 20, 2016, tenders were called after a request was made to the Senior Procurement Officer. An initial proposal was made to implement the project
within demarcated plots covering 2.19 hectares.
Additionally, 8,000,000 rupees allocated for land acquisition was transferred to the Provincial Treasury on January 19, 2025 thereby finalising that process.
At present, part of the construction work on the land has been completed, but all further work on the project has since been halted.
Residents of the area point out that Habarana is currently crowded with tourists and say it is a major crime to allow the buildings to go to waste. They stress that if the complex is completed and opened to the public, it could provide much needed facilities for visitors while generating revenue.
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