Environment Minister orders suspension of Wattala gabion barrier construction pending probe

Minister of Environment Dammika Patabendi has ordered the temporary suspension of construction work on a gabion barrier along the Pamunugama–Wahatiyagoda coastline in Wattala, pending a formal investigation into alleged boundary violations.

The directive was issued following site inspections conducted yesterday (12) along the affected coastal belt and at Taldiyawatta in Dikkowita, Wattala.

The Minister was accompanied by senior officials from the Department of Coast Conservation and Coastal Resource Management, including its Director General.

During the inspection, officials discovered that the gabion wall, intended to prevent coastal erosion, had reportedly been constructed beyond the boundaries approved by the Department of Coast Conservation and extended into areas designated as part of the beach.

Instructing officers to halt further construction work until further notice, Minister Patabendi stressed that all development within the coastal conservation zone must strictly comply with relevant laws and obtain mandatory department approvals. He ordered a formal inquiry into the approvals granted, the specified boundaries, the construction methods used, and whether oversight officials had properly fulfilled their duties.

During his visit to Taldiyawatta, the Minister also inspected a residential property damaged by powerful sea waves amid prevailing monsoon conditions.

Expressing concern over seawater intruding inland, he instructed officials to coordinate with relevant government agencies to conduct urgent technical assessments and implement immediate short- and long-term measures to safeguard residents.