John Amaratunga denies destruction of walking path

Tourism, Lands and Christian Religious Affairs Minister John Amaratunga yesterday denied any involvement in the destruction of the Wattala walking path and pledged to reconstruct it for the benefit of the residents. 

Full statement below:

Over the last few days various media reports have been broadcast and published to the effect that I have been involved in the removal of a walking path along the Wattala-Mabole Kalu Ela left embankment.

First of all I wish to categorically state that I have no personal involvement with this matter, my involvement is purely to ensure the well-being of the people of Wattala.

The pathway that has been removed has been constructed on private land by the previous government. In fact following a query made from me by the land owners I in turn wrote to the Land Reclamation and Development Corporation which comes under the purview of the Ministry of Megapolis and Western Province Development on 16  March 2016, seeking clarification with regard to the land in question. The LRDC replied my letter on the 18th of March 2016 confirming that the land is not vested with the state and that it has no objection to a road being constructed if the land owners are agreeable. This letter has been signed by the Director General of the LRDC, Srimathi Senadhira.

The roadway that is to be constructed replacing the existing pathway is primarily to access a block of land where it has been proposed to construct a housing scheme for low income families in the area. These families that have been ignored for years are in dire need of decent housing. The roadway will also assist in keeping the canal clean by facilitating the movement of equipment.

However considering the inconvenience that has been caused to a number of people I will immediately intervene to get the walkway reconstructed.

I wish to state that as the second most long-serving Member of Parliament, next only to the Prime Minister and having represented the Wattala electorate for an unbroken period since 1977, the welfare of the people in the area are my topmost priority.

It is unfortunate that individuals with vested interests are using this matter to further their political ambitions.