Former Minister D. V. Chanaka has accused President Anura Kumara Dissanayake of destroying the Tangalle Municipal Grounds by conducting a political rally.
Addressing the media, the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) member said the Tangalle Municipal Grounds was the biggest grounds in the area and a public asset.
He further said that the President’s first political rally had completely destroyed the grounds, making it unusable for at least two months.
“All political parties, including the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna, had previously come to a common consensus on not providing the grounds for any political events. The Municipal Council had also introduced legislation that Rs. 3.9 million must be deposited if the grounds were to be used for any purpose,” he revealed.
D. V. Chanaka accused the President of misusing his powers and using the Tangalle Municipal Grounds without paying the required Rs. 3.9 million deposit.
“No vehicles are allowed into the grounds. But the President’s vehicle had been allowed as a result of which the ground has now become a muddy area. It is estimated that a damage of Rs. 2 million to 2.5 million has been sustained,” he said.
The former MP also revealed that school children use the grounds for cricket training, but are unable to do so and are facing severe inconvenience as inter-school cricket tournaments have commenced.
He further questioned the Prime Minister and Sports Minister Harini Amarasuriya how she had agreed to the destruction of this public grounds.
D.V. Chanaka also urged the President, together with his National Pwoples’ Power (NPP) party, to restore the grounds with party funds. (Newswire)