Unauthorised constructions to be demolished before SAARC

The government has offered alternative housing for families living in unauthorised constructions on either side of the railway line from Slave Island to the Secretariat Halt as their houses will be destroyed before the commencement of the SAARC Summit due on 27 July, a Senior Defence Ministry official said .

"Altogether about 200 unauthorised dwellings will be demolished as this area is in the High Security Zone where the Army and Air Force headquarters, Police and Army hospital are located," he said.

The Urban Development Authority has already made alternative arrangements for housing the displaced, he said.

Dr. Prathrap Ramnujan, Secretary, Urban Development said those who have been asked to vacate their houses have been given three choices, he said.

"They will be provided temporary houses at Ferguson Road in Colombo 15 and for those who would not avail themselves of the facility would be paid a rent allowance of Rs 8,000 to Rs 9,000 per month to find suitable accommodation for a period of one year," he explained.

Once the new 1,000 unit Government Housing Scheme at Dematagoda is completed, all of them will receive permanent houses, he said.

A spokesman for those who will be evicted from their present dwelling complained that it is unfair for them to leave these constructions as they are poor people and they have been living here for around 15 years, in some cases two to three families living in one house. The government has also provided electricity connections to these houses, he added.

"The total surface area in the alternative houses provided in Thotalanga is 10 ft-10ft," he said.

However, a senior government official said that even the alternative houses provided to them in most cases are far better than what they are occupying at the moment and claimed that they have no right to occupy these lands since they belong to the government and the constructions are unauthorised.

On the other hand, the country’s security takes precedence and they have to understand this, he pointed out.

A Local Government official in the Slave Island said most of these people who were given alternative accommodation by the government sell these properties without occupying them and asked how they could complain when they get a better place to live than where they have lived earlier.