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Evicted residents’ protest

14 May 2010 09:21 am - 24     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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By Nabeela Hussain


Residents of Slave Island whose houses were removed by the Urban Development Authority (UDA) recently, staged a protest along the streets to vent their anger over their eviction. The residents staged the protest amidst tight security despite the heavy rain.

Speaking at a protest held at the Lipton Circus SLMC Leader Rauf Hakeem said that the Defence Secretary, who heads the UDA, did not have the right to forcibly evict people as he was not elected by the people but using the power that has been bestowed on him by his brother, President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

He also said that they will take legal action against what has happened. “It is disgraceful the way they have been evicted. they should have atleast have been given one month instead of two hours,” he said

Western Provincial Councilor, Mujeebur Rahman who was present at the protest said that when the LTTE leader Prabhakaran asked the Muslims in the North to move out he had atleast given them 24 hours but the Defence Secretary has given them only two hours to move out..

Attorney at law Sghiraz Nurdeen who was at the protest said that a Fundamental Rights Case will be filed in the Supreme Court as well as another will be filed in the District Court over the eviction.

“The government has agreed to give these people Rs. 8,000 a month for a year and a further Rs. 5,000 to move their belongings,” he said. The Attorney also said that shops and houses were to be given within the year.    








Pics by Varuna Wanniarchchi  
 


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  Comments - 24

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  • Friday, 14 May 2010 10:36 AM

    Even these people are given alternative places, they come back here again ( Giving the places to their children, or may be to rent, the elders come back to the same place). Same thing happened when new Moratuwa-Panadura Galle road constructed. They were given flats, but few months back, elders came back to to the same places. Till Tsunami they lived in the same place.

    Friday, 14 May 2010 08:57 PM

    The 'reconstruction' of this nation should not involve the destruction of its citizen's homes. There needs to be greater dialogue amongst all parties.

    Friday, 14 May 2010 06:41 PM

    See yourself in these people's position, then you would understand the gravity of losing shelter!

    Friday, 14 May 2010 11:08 AM

    These are proper built house and they are not on the Pavement. I am now 35 yrs living in UK. I was born in Slave Island. Even before my birth these residence existis. It is true they are right next to the Army Camp. But the Army camp was new compare to the livelyhood.

    Alternate places with same facilites or better facilites should have been provided before the unlawful eviction.

    Friday, 14 May 2010 11:02 AM

    Very good. Let's demolish all the other shanties too and plan the city properly

    Friday, 14 May 2010 11:01 AM

    UNP followed the different tactics .........They made new town instead of pulling the people , For example , Jayawardanapura , and in all most districts

    Friday, 14 May 2010 10:53 AM

    In Sri Lanka?

    Friday, 14 May 2010 10:52 AM

    BY whom?

    Friday, 14 May 2010 10:48 AM

    I am sure government gave them alternative place they can’t just throw them to the street. Most of the time these people sell that place and come back to same place. I know this situation because my parents bought land from these kind of people.

    Now it’s time to develop the country not wait and sit down. No mercy, start to action !!!!!!

    Friday, 14 May 2010 10:48 AM

    Everyone is ready to give what they do not have. But they will not give an inch of what they have.

    Friday, 14 May 2010 10:42 AM

    What the goverment is doing may be correct, but way of doing it is painful. Its not the way to treat a human being. Lets put our selves in their position and think before doing such sensitive moves. God bless Sri Lanka.

    Friday, 14 May 2010 10:42 AM

    WHY DID THEY HAVE TO WAIT TILL AFTER APRIL 8TH TO EVICT THEM ?

    MY FOOT IF THEY CAN MAKE SRI LANKA BEAUTIFUL BY EVICTING THERE OWN CITIZENS.........

    Friday, 14 May 2010 09:25 AM

    If they are evicted, then alternative accommodation should be found

    Friday, 14 May 2010 10:26 AM

    where r they going to live? whos gives them shelter?

    Friday, 14 May 2010 10:25 AM

    Beautification takes precedence over human rights and humanitarianism?

    Friday, 14 May 2010 10:20 AM

    Similar eviction made during the war by the same person. He orderd to vacate all Tamis who stayed in lodgings and other houses in Colombo. After protest by many democracy loving people , both local and international, that silly action was reverted.

    Friday, 14 May 2010 10:18 AM

    Would you let them do this to your home? Would you even give an inch from your property in order to support GOSL and to make Sri Lanka beautiful? Would your reaction be the same then?

    Friday, 14 May 2010 10:10 AM

    A vast majority of the public are deprived of their right to walk on the pavement allocated for safe walking, by a small minority of hawkers occupying these pavements illegally, resulting in those pedestrians running the gauntlet on the road playing a game of death. Can this be allowed?

    Friday, 14 May 2010 10:08 AM

    Making Sri Lanka into a tourist destination by expeling own people? funny....

    Friday, 14 May 2010 09:57 AM

    The hindi film "PAA" has a similar situation where Govt tries to evict unauthorise structures. Same way public and some media object it. But it nicely unvail the real motive behind protest and wide publicity. I think irrespective of political indiferences every one must support SL Govt and Defence Secretary to clean this country and make it beautiful.

    Friday, 14 May 2010 09:45 AM

    Shortcuts never worked in the history and never will, lets wait and see

    Friday, 14 May 2010 09:37 AM

    Welldone gota. sri lanka needs a man like you. Convert Sri Lanka into a beautiful tourist destination.

    Friday, 14 May 2010 09:35 AM

    Go to the courts to prove your rights

    Friday, 14 May 2010 09:29 AM

    Refuge by Gota


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