Wednesday, 6 November 2013 00:00
-
- {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
By Ashwin Hemmathagama –
Our Lobby Correspondent
As the capital Colombo gets a massive facelift, the Opposition yesterday took up the issue of urban evictions, the uglier side of the hyper-development drive in the city.
Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe told Parliament yesterday that the Government was planning to evict some 455 families and close down 99 business establishments in the heart of Colombo.
The Opposition Leader said that the evictions would occur in a 7.5 acre land in the Slave Island area, near Java Lane, Glennie Street, Wishvan Lane, Justice Akbar Mawatha, and De Soyza Street.
Wickremesinghe said that the occupants of these areas have been there for over 150 years and possess legal ownership to the land.
“Now the Courts have ordered them to vacate their residences by the first week of this December. The Urban Development Authority, which is known to break its promises have agreed to compensate these families,” the Opposition Leader said.
He charged that none of these victims had been provided with a firm proposal for compensation or relocation.
“City development should take place in a manner that will not harm or hinder the lives of its residents. This is just a program for the Government to make room for its henchmen and foreign entities,” Wickremesinghe said.
According to the Opposition Leader, in 2008 July, a total of 323 houses were removed in Glennie Street, Station Avenue, and the Stewart Street.
“In the past five years 76 families are yet to receive houses and they live in temporary shelters provided at the Weligoda area in Colombo 15,” he charged.
Wickremesinghe alleged that to make room for a school for children of the armed forces 20 houses in Mews Street were arbitrarily demolished in May 2010. “The occupants of these houses, 33 families were living there for over 80 years with registered deeds and other legal documents to prove ownership. These people were promised houses at Dematagoda new housing complex along with some suitable compensation. Until such time they were promised a monthly housing rental of Rs.12,500,” he added.
Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources Management and the Leader of the House Nimal Siripala de Silva agreed to provide an answer at the next session of Parliament.
