The Urban Development Authority (UDA) has suspended the construction project linked to the acquisition of the property owned by D. S. Senanayake College in Colombo.
The Director- General of the UDA N.P.K. Ranaweera said the project was initiated for the betterment of the school, with an aim to ease traffic congestion in and around the area.
However, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had informed the UDA not to proceed with the project if the school does not require it.
As a result and due to criticism raised by various parties and the media, a decision has been taken to suspend the project, he said.
Earlier, the old boys’ of D. S. Senanayake College in Colombo had raised concerns over a Gazette notification published on the Government’s acquisition of a part of land belonging to the school.
The Gazette notification published in May states that on the orders of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa the said land, along with a few other surrounding lands have been acquired by the Urban Development Authority (UDA) for a development project.
It has been reported that the UDA is to construct a multi-storey car park on the lands that have been acquired.
The UDA has acquired plots in the North connected to R. G. Senanayake Mawatha, in the East linked to Kynsey Road, in the South connected to Bauddhaloka Mawatha and Sri Bauddhaloka Viharaya, and in the West linked to D.S. Senanayake and Sri Bauddhaloka Viharaya.
Several old boys of D. S. Senanayake College had expressed concerns over the matter via social media.
Responding to the concerns, Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) MP and old boy of D. S. Senanayake College Premnath Dolawatte had also issued a statement in this regard.
MP Dolawatte said he will support any decision taken by the President of the Old Boys Association and the Principal of the school over the matter.
He further called on the President of the Old Boys Association and the school to reveal its stance on the matter, in order for him to take necessary action. (NewsWire)