Dr. Ajith Ranawaka, who acts as the President’s personal physician, has received permission to construct a hotel in the Ahungalle beach in Galle in violation of coast conservation laws.

Construction work on the hotel has already commenced in the beach area in Andagala, Okade and Moyakata area in the Thotawatte Road in Ahungalle and the access road to the hotel is being built by workers from the Balapitiya Pradeshiya Sabha.

Dr. Ajith Ranawaka had purchased the land for the hotel a few months back. A massive wall is being constructed from the land to the beach.

The construction of the hotel has prevented fishermen and residents from entering the area.

Although the Coast Conservation Department has ordered a halt to the hotel project, the construction work continues regardless of the department’s directive

The Coast Conservation Department says about 50 acres of land has been allotted to build the hotel and a deed for the land has also been prepared.

Fishermen in the Thotawatte area have complained to the JVP public representatives that the area is sometimes blocked by security personnel when ever a VIP visits the site of the hotel causing many difficulties to residents in the area.