Information about the construction of a hotel complex by the Chairman of the Central Environment Authority Siripala Amarasinghe and his son Tarinda Amarasinghe in a historically and agriculturally important ecologically sensitive land is being reported from the Rathkinda area of Matale.
The Telagamuwa Oya, one of the two main sources of water for the Moragahakanda Reservoir, flows through this area bordering the World Heritage Knuckles Reserve, and the Katupolland and Katukithule canals, which provide water for agricultural activities, are located nearby.
The construction of the hotel is going on about 100 meters away from the river, and a road with stone steps is also being prepared for tourists to go to the river from there.
The villagers of Atamwala believe that there is a pond in this area where Weliwita Saranankara Sangaraja Thero took a bath, and they also hold a milk spilling festival in connection with it.
Villagers point out that these cultural values may be damaged when tourists start visiting, and the water catchment area of the stream has also been damaged during related constructions.
The 6 feet wide, 500 meters long access road to reach the hotel complex is being completed through the Katukitule Canal in the middle of Bulatwelhena, and at present the work on a 200 meter section is complete. Due to this construction, it can be seen that even the natural stones on the canal banks have been removed.
The owners of this hotel complex did not obtain any other legal permission obtained from the Central Environment Authority or the Forest Conservation Authority or the Department of Agriculture, except for the permission obtained from the Pallegama Divisional Secretary, after convincing the farmers that a good access road will be made to enter the fields, according to the topography of the area. not taken
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