The famous walking path at Independence Square, which was constructed 15 years ago under the leadership of former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa for the health and well-being of the people of Colombo, has now fallen into a severely dilapidated condition, it has been reported.
Thousands of people, including elderly citizens, who use the path daily are facing a dangerous situation as a result, Parliamentarian Harsha de Silva said in a special disclosure posted on his official X social media account.
The MP stated that people walking along the path frequently fall and sustain injuries due to pebbles emerging on the surface and the formation of a rough, uneven surface.
People have also been inconvenienced because piles of soil brought for the renovation of the path have been left unused for several months.
Harsha de Silva has requested the urgent attention of Colombo Mayor Vrai Kelly Balthasar and the Urban Development Authority (UDA) regarding the issue. In response, the Mayor stated that steps would be taken to immediately inform the relevant Ministry and Minister about the matter.
Harsha de Silva also proposed that the maintenance of the path, which is currently under the Urban Development Authority, should be immediately handed over to the Colombo Municipal Council to ensure proper maintenance.
