Environmental organizations in Nuwara Eliya have raised serious concerns over the complete destruction of the area where a public outdoor social party was held at the fourth phase of Gregory Lake. The event, organized to coincide with the week-long Deepavali holidays, took place from the morning of yesterday (18) until midnight.
According to environmentalists, the fourth phase of Gregory Lake—constructed by the Nuwara Eliya Municipal Council and maintained daily by its staff—has been left in a state of total devastation following the event.
They reported that the area where Thanathilla was located has been completely destroyed and is now littered with beer cans, alcohol bottles, plastic, polythene, and various other forms of waste.
Environmental activists have strongly condemned the Municipal Council’s decision to grant permission for such events in designated environmental zones in Nuwara Eliya, allegedly without proper conditions or environmental consideration. They further criticized the council for only charging an entertainment tax from the organizers of the social party, which reportedly generated profits amounting to millions of rupees.
When contacted for comment, several responsible officials of the Nuwara Eliya Municipal Council confirmed that an entertainment tax had been collected and that the area had been officially provided for the said event.
Meanwhile, it is also noteworthy that nearly 50 young individuals between the ages of 18 and 28, who had attended the party, were arrested yesterday by the Nuwara Eliya and Kotmale Police for possessing various types of narcotic drugs. They were later released on bail.
