News

Environmental case filed against Araliya hotel, Unawatuna

Published

5 years ago

2021/04/7

By Ifham Nizam

The Centre for Environmental Justice (CEJ) yesterday (6) filed a case against the Araliya Hotel, Unawatuna in the Court of Appeal.

Attorney-at-Law Ravindranath Dabare told The Island that they had been compelled to file action because there had been no proper Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and the negative impact of the project would harm the ecologically sensitive Buonavista reef.

Unawatuna boasted one of the best beaches in the world, Dabare said.

Tourists who visited Unawatuna in large numbers since its transformation into a prominent tourist destination of Southern Sri Lanka preferred homestead tourism, CEJ Executive Director Hemanatha Withanage said, adding that a part of Rumassala Sanctuary area including both the forest and coral reefs were now protected due to their valuable biodiversity.

Environmentalists and nature activists insist that the construction of a 16-storeyed edifice for a hotel complex which includes over 250 rooms covering an extent of 10 acres and 6.1 perches along with a 20 -40-foot wide carpeted road from ‘Yaddehimulla’ to the ‘Rumassala Peella Junction’ via the boundary of the Rumassala mountain will be detrimental to the priceless natural resources in the area including the Rumassala Sanctuary.

Although an EIA was done for 250 rooms the Coast Conservation and Coastal Resource Management had granted approval for 300 rooms and ancillary buildings without calling for a supplementary EIA, Withanage added.

“If the road is constructed, there will be considerable destruction to the ecosystem of the Rumassala sanctuary,” Withanage stressed.

The Araliya Hotel was planning to release 60% of wastewater after treatment to the sea on completion of the project, the senior environmentalist said.

At present all waste water from the hotel as being discharged to a waterway close to the hotel, and it ultimately flows into the sea.

If the mega Araliya project was not regulated properly, it would eliminate the ecological appeal of Rumassala and Unawatuna where people had lived peacefully, the CEJ Legal Team warned.

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Colombo Stock Exchange (GL 12) donates LKR 25 million to the “Rebuilding Sri Lanka” Fund

Published

5 hours ago

2026/01/24

Priyan

The Colombo Stock Exchange (GL 12) has contributed LKR 25 million to the Rebuilding Sri Lanka Fund.

The cheque was handed over to the Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake by the Chairman of the Colombo Stock Exchange, Dimuthu Abeyesekera, the Chief Executive Officer Rajeeva Bandaranaike and Senior Vice Chairman Kusal Nissanka at the Presidential Secretariat.

News

Karu argues against scrapping MPs’ pension as many less fortunate members entered Parliament after ’56

Published

14 hours ago

2026/01/24

Thilina Walpola

Karu Jayasuriya

Former Speaker of Parliament Karu Jayasuriya has written to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake expressing concerns over the proposed abolition of MPs’ pensions.The letter was sent in his capacity as Patron of the Former Parliamentarians’ Caucus.

In his letter, Jayasuriya noted that at the time of Sri Lanka’s independence, political participation was largely limited to an educated, affluent land-owning elite. However, he said a significant social transformation took place after 1956, enabling ordinary citizens to enter politics.

He warned that under current conditions, removing parliamentary pensions would effectively confine politics to the wealthy, business interests, individuals engaged in illicit income-generating activities, and well-funded political parties. Such a move, he said, would discourage honest social workers and individuals of modest means from entering public life.

Jayasuriya also pointed out that while a small number of former MPs, including himself, use their pensions for social and charitable purposes, the majority rely on the pension as a primary source of income.

He urged the President to give due consideration to the matter and take appropriate action, particularly as the government prepares to draft a new constitution.The Bill seeking to abolish pensions for Members of Parliament was presented to Parliament on 07 January by Minister of Justice and National Integration Dr. Harshana Nanayakkara.

News

Johnston, two sons and two others further remanded over alleged misuse of vehicle

Published

14 hours ago

2026/01/24

Thilina Walpola

Former Minister Johnston Fernando and others being escorted out of the Wattala Magistrate Court premises yesterday

Five suspects, including former Minister Johnston Fernando and his two sons, who were arrested by the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID), were further remanded until 30 January by the Wattala Magistrate’s Court yesterday.

The former Minister’s , sons Johan Fernando and Jerome Kenneth Fernando, and two others, were arrested in connection with the alleged misuse of a Sathosa vehicle during Fernando’s tenure as Minister.

Investigations are currently underway into the alleged misuse of state property, including a lorry belonging to Lanka Sathosa, which reportedly caused a significant financial loss to the state.

In connection with the same incident, Indika Ratnamalala, who served as the Transport Manager of Sathosa during

Fernando’s tenure as Minister of Co-operatives and Internal Trade, was arrested on 04 January.

After being produced before the Wattala Magistrate’s Court, he was ordered to be remanded in custody until 09 January.The former Sathosa Transport Manager was remanded on charges of falsifying documents.