The Environment Ministry has announced a re-investigation into the disappearance of the Mount Lavinia artificial beach, which was built at a cost of Rs. 890 million.
Minister Dr. Dhammika Patabendi stated that a new study is underway to assess the artificial beach constructed along the Mount Lavinia coastline.
Meanwhile, Dr. Turney Pradeep Kumara, Director General of the Coastal Conservation and Coastal Resources Management Department, revealed that his department is reviewing activity reports related to the project, which was initiated under the previous government.
Authorities are also preparing to report their findings to the Committee on Public Enterprises (COPE).
Currently, the Mount Lavinia coastline has been completely eroded. “When we visited the site, the newly created artificial seawall was no longer visible.
In April 2021, during a nationwide travel ban, sand filling was carried out under tight police security,” Dr. Kumara stated.
The project required police security due to strong opposition from local residents and environmental organizations.
The artificial beach was constructed in three phases, using a total of 1.5 million cubic meters of sand sourced from the sea, six kilometers off the Mount Lavinia coast.
Dr. Kumara emphasized that the seawall was designed based on an environmental study.
The project was awarded to a Danish company through an internationally recognized tender, in collaboration with a local construction firm.
They used 800,000 cubic meters of sea sand for the three-phase construction.
