Legal action by the Colombo Municipal Council against a company for cutting down a tree on Galle Road

The Colombo Municipal Council's serious attention has been drawn to an incident where a mature, decades-old tree located on Galle Road was cut down by a private company. Colombo Mayor Vrai Kelli Balthasar stated that arrangements are being made to take legal action against the company under the charge of destroying government property.

Commenting on this destructive act via social media, she emphasized that the private institution is directly responsible for causing damage to public property.

The Mayor, pointing out that the Municipal Council is constantly committed to protecting the city's green system, recalled that recently, when several trees near Fort Railway Station and the University of Visual and Performing Arts had to be removed due to development work, instead of cutting them down, careful steps were taken to uproot them and replant them elsewhere. The Municipal Council has successfully replanted these protected trees in Viharamahadevi Park and on Flower Road. Meanwhile, she also makes a special request to the business community to refrain from asking for permission to cut down trees in the city, claiming that they obstruct their business signboards or name boards.

Commenting on this incident, Colombo Municipal Council Opposition Member Tony Ramsey stated that according to existing regulations, cutting down trees such as Bo trees and coconut trees is strictly prohibited. He further pointed out that there is legal provision to strictly enforce the law against any party that illegally cuts down trees, violating existing legal provisions.