The construction of the proposed hotel project at Peak Field
Estate in Nallathanniya near the Sri Pada (Adam’s Peak), has been halted
following the intervention of the Central Environmental Authority (CEA).
Estate superintendent
Dishan Seneviratne said that he was notified of this by officials who engaged
in an inspection tour of the location.
The construction of the
new hotel had been planned after demolishing an old building located in the
estate near Muray Falls above the Maussakele Reservoir. However, instructions
have been issued not to carry out any development activity at the site without
the approval of the CEA.
The hotel was proposed
to be built at the 82 acres of land which was purchased by a businessman from
Dubai while a helicopter landing pad had also been built at the estate due to
him always visiting their by helicopter.
The superintend assured
that only a holiday resort is being built at the estate and nothing else, as
claimed by certain social media posts, and that the estate is not located in
the Sri Pada reserve or near the sacred mountain.
Environmentalists say
that this hotel project could adversely affect the endangered animals and
plants within the sensitive environmental zone of the Sri Pada.