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Polonnaruwa jogging track only if clergy approve

06 Sep 2021

  • Irrigation DG confirms project suspended
  • Breakwater restoration if agreement reached
BY Dinitha Rathnayake The project for the construction of a jogging track on the breakwater of the ancient Parakrama Samudra reservoir in Polonnaruwa, which has since been suspended, will only go ahead if the approval of the Buddhist clergy and the relevant parties is received, Director General of Irrigation Eng. Nihal Siriwardana told The Morning The suspension of the project for the construction of the jogging track at the said location was confirmed by Siriwardana yesterday (6). In addition, it is learnt that the rocks that were placed in the Parakrama Samudra reservoir during the period that the construction had commenced will be removed in order to restore the breakwater of the Parakrama Samudra, if an agreement is reached in this regard. Meanwhile, environmentalist Sajeewa Chamikara of the Movement for Land and Agricultural Reform (MONLAR) claimed that the Parakrama Samudra jogging track project is illegal. Speaking to The Morning, he said that this project has been developed without environmental approvals and not according to the Antiquities Ordinance. “This project has to seek permission from three authorities. The Irrigation Department’s permission had already been given to proceed with the project but what about the approvals from the environmental and archaeological authorities?,” he queried. He also said that the company involved in the construction of the project was wrong to proceed with such an act. Local authorities on 27 August temporarily suspended the project to construct a jogging track on the breakwater of the ancient Parakrama Samudra following strong opposition from the Buddhist clergy who, representing multiple temples across the Polonnaruwa District, made their way to the construction site on 27 August to witness the destruction caused to an ancient water conservation system. Bulldozers were used to shove the rocks of the breakwater into the Parakrama Samudra in order to construct a new walking path around the ancient irrigation system. The proposal for this walking path was moved by the Urban Development Authority (UDA) and the construction was to cost Rs. 34 million. History reveals that King Parakramabahu I had made an immense contribution towards the agricultural industry and that the Parakrama Samudra was his greatest contribution to the people.

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