News
Rs 1 bn needed to remove unauthorised constructions in Akurana Town
Officials of the Urban Development Authority (UDA) have informed the Kandy District Coordinating Committee that more than one billion rupees is required to identify and remove 222 unauthorised constructions in Akurana town. The meeting was held at the Kandy District Secretariat Auditorium, co-chaired by Kandy District Coordinating Committee Chairpersons, Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation K.D. Lalkantha and Central Province Governor Professor S.B.S. Abayakoon. Kandy District Secretary Indika Udawatta and other officials also participated.
During the meeting, officials from the UDA, including Central Province Director Anura Madawala, informed about the progress regarding the removal of unauthorised structures in Akurana. They stated that 222 unauthorised constructions have been identified from the starting point of Akurana town up to the 7th-mile post. Out of these, notices have already been issued to 159 buildings to be removed. However, the UDA officials emphasised that the authority cannot bear the estimated cost of over Rs. 1 billion required for the demolition process, and therefore, the necessary funds must be provided by the government.
The Chairman of the Akurana Pradeshiya Sabha, Isthiquar Imadudeen, stated: “The District Coordinating Committee had previously decided to file legal action against 14 unauthorised buildings and informed the Pradeshiya Sabha. However, those 14 buildings have now been transferred to the Akurana Pradeshiya Sabha. Since the Sabha does not have the necessary financial strength or authority to carry out the demolition, the matter has been referred back to the UDA based on a council decision.”
Minister K.D. Lalkantha noted that a committee decision has to be taken to include the requirement of funds in the upcoming budget.
Member of Parliament Rauff Hakeem: “The situation in Akurana is a complex issue. In addition to the UDA, a collective programme involving the Land Reclamation Commission and the Irrigation Department should be implemented. They are the ones who knew exactly about the river reservations. No proper decision has been made regarding the Pinga Oya reservation yet. If we follow the current 40-foot rule, the entire Akurana town might disappear. This is a policy matter, and the UDA has the power to address it.”
State Minister of Transport and Highways Prasanna Gunasena: “We have discussed the Akurana town issue long enough. Reports have been taken multiple times. The problem is lack of implementation.”
Member of Parliament Riyas Farook: “While we talk about the old buildings, shouldn’t we stop new buildings being constructed? Now they are building right in the open. If we cannot take legal action even now, what kind of government is this?”
Anura Madawala (UDA Provincial Director): “The UDA does not have the power to issue a permanent prohibitory injunction against unauthorised constructions. If we had the ability to stop them during the initial phase, we could prevent this. We have requested to amend the sections of our Act related to unauthorised constructions. If those amendments are passed, we can stop this.”
The Coordinating Committee also decided to maintain the width of the canal running parallel to Akurana town at 40 feet.
By S.K. Samaranayake
In a swift search and rescue (SAR) operation, the Sri Lanka Navy on 22 Jun 2026 rendered assistance to a one-day fishing trawler that had failed to return to its intended destination.
Reportedly, the fishing trawler and its 02 crew members ran into trouble due to adverse weather conditions off the north coast of the island. The rescue mission was launched
immediately following an alert from the Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources regarding the overdue trawler.
Responding to the distress call, the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) Colombo, coordinated the deployment of naval craft for the SAR operation.
During the operation, naval personnel located the distressed trawler and its 02 fishermen in the seas off the Analaitivu Island and they were brought to safety.
Maintaining a round-the-clock vigil, the Sri Lanka Navy, through the coordination of MRCC Colombo, remains constantly prepared to deploy assets and extend vital lifesaving assistance to the naval and fishing communities facing perils within the Sri
Lankan Search and Rescue Region.
The NPP government has not taken a final decision regarding filling of the vacancies in the judiciary.
A group of Opposition MPs, led by SJB leader Sajith Premadasa, on 12 June, requested Speaker Dr. Jagath Wickremeratne to take up the issue of judicial vacancies with President Dissanayake. Opposition sources said that there were four vacancies, each in the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court, and the inordinate delay had adversely affected the judiciary.
Government sources indicated that there was no change in the status quo as regards filling of vacancies. Referring to the government proposal to extend the retirement age of judges, authoritative sources said that no final decision had been taken yet.
SJB lawmaker Dayasiri Jayasekera told The Island that they would raise the issue in Parliament this week.
He said that the deliberate delay in making appointments to superior courts and the move to extend the retirement age couldn’t be taken separately.
The MP noted that the Bar Association of Sri Lanka, the Lawyers’ Collective, the Colombo High Court Lawyers’ Association, Colombo Magistrate’s Court Lawyers’ Association and the Bar Association of Badulla had opposed the government move.
There hadn’t been any public statements in support of the government move, MP Jayasekera said, urging the government to end uncertainty in the judiciary.
by Shamindra Ferdinando
SJB leader Sajith Premadasa has invited the UNP and other political parties to join his party. Premadasa, who is also the leader of the Opposition, has emphasised that the UNP and the SJB could reach a consensus on policies but his party wouldn’t, under any circumstances, accept whatever formula to share positions. Premadasa said so, speaking to the media over the weekend, after meeting the Mahanayaka Thera of the Malwatta Chapter of the Siyam Nikaya Most Venerable Thibbatuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Thera.
A statement issued by the Opposition Leader’s Office quoted MP Premadasa as having extended an invitation to all political parties to give up extremist policies and join the SJB.
The SJB leader alleged that the NPP government feared facing elections and that was the reason for the inordinate delay in holding Provincial Council polls. PC polls were last held in 2012, 2013 and 2014, on a staggered basis. Premadasa said that if PC polls were held his party would definitely win the majority of PCs.Premadasa also urged the government to reduce electricity tariffs and fuel prices.
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