The Matara Nilwala River Park, which was declared open last week (19), has been ordered to remain closed for a month until 26 August.
Three days since its opening, the park was ordered to be closed by Matara Chief Magistrate Aruna Indrajith Buddadasa over safety concerns.
The Matara Police had requested the closure, citing the park’s unsafe conditions and unauthorised constructions causing public nuisance.
The matter was taken up for discussion at the Matara District Coordination Committee meeting headed by Minister Sunila Handunneththi last week.
At the meeting, the minister was informed of unsafe constructions, including a two-storey building overlooking the Nilwala River.
A senior Police officer of the Matara District informed the minister that special police teams can be deployed to assist in removing the illegal constructions.
On Monday (21), the Urban Development Authority (UDA) put up a notice announcing that the Matara Nilwala River Park was a prohibited area.
In a letter to the Acting IGP, the UDA had also informed that the Matara Nilwala River Park had been declared open without receiving the necessary approval or safety checks.
Pointing out that an unauthorised fence and a structure overlooking the Nilwala River for crocodile spotting had been constructed, the UDA said the park had been vested with the public without conducting the necessary safety checks.
The UDA had requested the Acting IGP to assist with the closure of the park until public safety is ensured and investigations are completed into the use of forged documents for unauthorised constructions.
Following the Matara Police presenting facts to the court in this regard, an order was issued to temporarily close the Matara Nilwala River Park for a period of one month. (Newswire)