By Roy Denish
Matara coastal licence allegations have raised questions over an officer’s transfer, possible conflicts of interest and unauthorised developments.
The administration of the Coast Conservation and Coastal Resource Management Department faces serious questions following the controversial reappointment of Development Officer Kalani Himali Premathunga to the Matara Divisional Secretariat. This decision, authorized by Director General Tarni Pradeep Kumara, has drawn sharp criticism due to intense allegations of nepotism, institutional corruption, and conflict of interest involving a coastal license mafia operating in the southern region.
The core of the issue lies in the professional and personal relationship between Kalani Himali Premathunga and her husband, Suranga Nandasena, an engineer at the Galle Regional Office who previously served in the Matara provincial office. Over the past two decades, the couple has repeatedly served concurrently within the same administrative jurisdiction. Between 2005 and 2017, Suranga Nandasena served as the engineer in Matara, while his wife worked in the Matara Divisional Secretariat from 2005 to 2014. This pattern repeated from 2023 to September 2025, effectively turning the regional office into a closely controlled family operation. After a brief seven-month stint at the Devinuwara Divisional Secretariat, she was transferred back to Matara on July 8, 2026, marking a cumulative total of seventeen years of service in a single station.
This recent reappointment directly violates standard public service transfer regulations, which explicitly cap an official’s tenure at a single station at five years to prevent the abuse of power. The justification of a critical service requirement is highly questionable, particularly since the regional engineer had already recommended a different officer for the vacancy. Furthermore, the transfer occurred while the Ministry of Environment is actively conducting a disciplinary investigation into Premathunga regarding unauthorized coastal developments. Standard administrative protocols dictate that an officer under investigation must be kept away from the location of the alleged misconduct to prevent the destruction of evidence or the intimidation of witnesses.
The investigation centers on four major unauthorized constructions on the Matara coast that directly breach environmental regulations. These include the Culture Resort in Polhena, built illegally on the coastal guard stone barrier, and Lakraj Heritage, also located in Polhena, which bypasses sensitive coastal regulations. Additionally, the Mint Hotel in Madiha was constructed within a strictly prohibited coastal zone without local government approval. The fourth property, a commercial campaign named 360°, is registered under the name of Amila Premathunga, who is the brother of the development officer. Allegations suggest that official influence was used to obstruct coast guard officers from enforcing the law against this property.
The mechanism driving these illegal approvals allegedly operates through a private entity known as Cluster Engineering, a company operated by Premathunga and her husband. The firm reportedly acts as a conduit for applicants seeking coastal licenses for prohibited activities. Plans are drawn up through the firm, recommended for approval, and fast-tracked through complicit officials at the Colombo head office in exchange for substantial financial kickbacks.
The reappointment of an official facing such severe allegations, especially to the exact location of the suspected infractions, compromises the integrity of the regulatory framework. For citizens who expected transparency and systemic reform from contemporary leadership, these actions signal a continuation of old administrative malpractices rather than the promised institutional accountability.
