February 7, 2005—The Sri Lankan government’s “100 meter rule,” which was instituted in the wake of the devastating tsunamis and does not permit construction or repair of buildings within 100 meters of the coast, has sparked concern from citizens and the area’s civic organizations. The ban has also caused confusion because some beachside hotels, popular with foreign tourists, have apparently been exempted from the ban and new tourism developments will be decided on a case-by-case basis, according to Sri Lankas Financial Times.
Sri Lankan President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga announced a plan recently to build 15 new townships located several miles away from beaches across the island, though details have not been released. The new government policy also requires those still residing within 100 meters of the coast to move. For more information, see the article in Architectural Record.
