Sanctity of Kandy should be protected

Kandy Daily News Special Correspondent

Mayor Mahendra Ratwatte chaired the Kandy MC meeting on the 19 March, 2012. The Leader of the Opposition Neranjan Wijeyeratne pointed out a large sum of money due to the Kandy MC - is held back due to non-compliance of Government Departments and Public Institutions. He said total amount exceeds more than Rs. 40 m - whose delay demobilises the public of Kandy.

The Mayor said that he has regularised the process to have the payments made within the prescribed period and the collection of arrears of payments are discussed with the appropriate heads of the respective departments.

Neranjan Wijeyeratne speaking about the city of Kandy, which has gained status of world heritage during the tenure of office of his father late Nissanka Wijeyeratne has now fallen to a callous situation where the Commissioner of Archaeology overruns the authority of the Mayor of Kandy - who heads the world heritage committee of the Kandy city.

He said a restroom is on the process of construction just behind the Dalada Maligawa for which neither consultation, nor approval is obtained from the Mayor. Even the District Secretary has not been informed.

Referring to the news item of the Divaina paper he said even the Minister of Cultural Affairs T.B. Ekanayaka has reiterated at a recent visit to Kandy, that any construction that mar the cultural sanctity would not be allowed and preservation of such sites would be of paramount importance. The activities that are going against and contrary to the mandate of the UNESCO and if that were to be continued the city of Kandy would be cashiered of the honour of being a world heritage site.