According to the Urban Development Authority (UDA), the damage caused to the Galle Face area including the Galle Face Green due to the makeshift former “GotaGoGama” village which was established in the location demanding the resignation of then-President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, and was subsequently renamed “RanilGoGama” after incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe prior to its removal following a court order, is around Rs. 4.9 million.
The authority announced in a press release yesterday (22) that they have now taken steps to obtain an assessment report on the damage caused. It is stated in the assessment report prepared by the UDA that Rs. 150,000 will be spent for the repair of the area, and the basic work on the land while Rs. 4.75 million will be spent for planting grass.
Urban Development and Housing Minister Prasanna Ranatunga had recently instructed the UDA to take necessary legal measures to recover compensation from the activists for the damage caused to the area belonging to the UDA.
“This area belongs to the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) jurisdiction. Where the illegal construction by the activists was concerned, it was declared an urban development area. If any development activity or temporary construction is carried out in an urban development area, a permit must be obtained in terms of the provisions of the UDA (Amendment) Act, No. 04 of 1982. But the militants have trespassed into the area and committed many atrocities.”
According to the UDA, the right of the general public to freely use the area has also been hindered due to the fact that many unauthorised constructions have been built in that area.