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Legal action against UDA

9 May 2010 06:10 am - 42     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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By Kshanika Argent


Legal action is to be filed against the Urban Development Authority (UDA) over the eviction of residents in Slave Island yesterday on the ground their houses were unauthorized structures. Meanwhile investigations are underway over the assault of two police officers by the residents.

A mob of Slave Island residents clashed with the police yesterday after authorities began removing unauthorized structures in the area. Many families were forced out of their homes with their belongings and the demolition of the structures took place despite the resident's claim to having documents that prove their structures were legal.

UNP MP Sujeewa Serasinghe stated that the demolition was illegal as the residents had documentation which was issued between 1986 and 1987 that proved the houses and apartments were authorised constructions and that legal action is to be taken against the Urban Devolopment Authority (UDA) over the eviction.

Speaking to Daily Mirror online, Serasinghe stated, "These people have their deeds and their names are on the voting list. The structures were legal and the authorities had no court order to remove them, what's more the residents were given only 3 days notice."

Serasinghe added that he was seeking an interim order to prevent future demolitions and compensation to the people affected.

Meanwhile speaking to Daily Mirror online Police Spokesman S.P Preshantha Jayakody said that investigations are underway over the assault of two police officers by residents of Slave Island who were evicted from their homes yesterday afternoon. Jayakody stated that action will be taken against the perpetrators.  (Daily Mirror online)










The clearing of rubble took place this morning by the UDA. Pics by Padeep Dilrukshana


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  Comments - 42

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  • Monday, 10 May 2010 05:02 AM

    u r correct.. but the problem is about those victims..Despite the legal documents that they are having, where will they go now? Aren't they Sri lankans? does the gov expect them to book a suit in Hilton until they find another place? may god give them a SECURE< LEGAL and Peaceful place to live...

    Monday, 10 May 2010 12:30 AM

    How about clearing the illegal houses in other areas dominated by the ruling party supporters? Dont be one sided when commenting.

    Monday, 10 May 2010 12:54 AM

    Making Colombo beutiful Gota style. Some will approve of any tactics without any concern for the plight of those who are being evicted as if they are some disposable rubbish. It is also quite likely that these are UNP supporters.

    Monday, 10 May 2010 01:25 AM

    Keep it up this is the direct result of corrupt politicans on both side who ruled the country after independence.UNP should not try to take side and do cheap politics in this juncture.Well done Gothe though i differ with you the way you all handle the SF affair.

    Monday, 10 May 2010 01:43 AM

    If you are in Melbourne, Australia (?), this action can be considered a "very" good thing. No doubt you can visit the "beautiful" city of Colombo some day in the future. Why don't you visit Colombo as soon as possible and see for yourself the chaos these residents are faced with. Is this how Melbourne has been developed?.

    Monday, 10 May 2010 02:39 AM

    Looking at the pictures one wonders where these families could go with the kids after eviction! While it is absolutely necessary to rid the city of these temporary abodes,it is equally necessary to relocate the dwellers immediately, for these have sprung up with the blessings of the councillors. That is not all. It is time to enact legislation to prevent the erection of such structures and to punish the officers and members who allow such abodes to come up, in future. If not, this will happen again and again.

    Monday, 10 May 2010 02:51 AM

    When the people, theire lives, property were destroyed by Tsunami. The IC and local people donated billions Rs. Some one stole it an kept in his private accpunt untill UNP made an issue of it. But the stupid people voted for this person

    Monday, 10 May 2010 02:52 AM

    i Hussein
    Mate i agree with you 100%

    Monday, 10 May 2010 03:07 AM

    Atlast some politicians have the backbone to do unpopular things.I feel only a handful are innocent.As most unauthorised constructions are on pavements and some even encroach on Road Reservations.
    Eg:Wellawatte,Veluwanrama Road.

    Thereby depriving thousands of using the roads at the benefit of a handful of selfish people.

    Monday, 10 May 2010 03:34 AM

    Having Legal documents and having voting rights under the said premises that they are legal residents.Police should have acted in a more responsible way . Thank God for they were Legal resident and not illegal tugs . if so police would have faced real war.

    Monday, 10 May 2010 03:50 AM

    GOOD JOB SIR, THESE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN SHANTIES NEVER WILL GO TO A DECENT PLACE EVEN IF THEY WERE PROVIDED WITH AN APARTMENT IN CRESCAT CITY. THIS IS THEIR WAY OF LIFE. THEY DO ALL BAD THINGS IN THESE PLACES. THEY ARE THE LAW UNTO THEMSELVES. ATLEAST OUR CHILDERN WILL ENJOY A QUALITY LIFE IN OUR BLESSED LAND. GOD BLESS YOU PRESIDENT. NOW I WALK HAPPILY IN PETTAH PAVEMENTS WITHOUT BEING HARRASED BY THOSE GOONS.

    Sunday, 09 May 2010 05:14 PM

    Dear Sri Lankan you voted them in and you asked for it ... feel sorry for you people because you are innocent and poor ... next time think twice when selecting your representatives ! ! !

    Monday, 10 May 2010 05:03 AM

    you are right bro... I do accept with u.

    Monday, 10 May 2010 05:19 AM

    This is not LTTE war. We should understand the real problem of the resident. Govt. must help them.

    Monday, 10 May 2010 05:31 AM

    .I am glad to come back and live in Sri Lanka ....you must not encourage these kinds of unauthorised structures. Please tell me can you walk or even drive peacefully in Dematagoda , Maligawatte or even in Slave Island areas. Please don’t try to justify these wrong doings of these illegal squatters.

    Monday, 10 May 2010 05:34 AM

    No use taking legal action, UDA as well as the law is in the same hands.

    Monday, 10 May 2010 07:01 AM

    why do you blame the UNP..
    It's the ruling party that done this,

    Now when ever Injustice happen you ask UNP to stand Against it.. why ?? why should they defend your right ??

    You voted gov in, so live with it...

    Monday, 10 May 2010 07:18 AM

    wait and see wat will happened in future,

    Monday, 10 May 2010 07:38 AM

    First find them accommodation & then demolish. Dont demolish & then run round in circles trying to find them alternate accommodation. In Singapore first they built apartments for them, then came handed them the keys, and then started the demolition - which is the more humane way of setting about this. But Sri Lanka is behaving in an inhumane way - and this is supposed to be a Buddhist country?

    Monday, 10 May 2010 08:02 AM

    if these people have legal documents and their names on the voting list then why the hell can't the UDA take proper steps. seems something Fishy is this something to prevent these people voting ???

    Monday, 10 May 2010 08:04 AM

    did you provide them shelter? and did they say no need?

    Sunday, 09 May 2010 08:20 AM

    The Opposition is like that . . .
    Now they have gone to a deep slumber. . .
    They will wake up only when the next election is announced. . . .
    But that also not active . . .
    They will issue a statement to the papers in a few days . . . or mostly in few WEEKs and go back to sleep . . .
    that is U N P

    Sunday, 09 May 2010 06:43 AM

    Why Ranil & opposition are silent on this issue ?

    Sunday, 09 May 2010 07:10 AM

    If they have necessary approvals it is illegal remove from there premises. Other wise government should pay compensation to evaluate people no matter which regime it approved. That is government fault not the public. Please use the common sense.

    Sunday, 09 May 2010 07:11 AM

    this is a vary good thing MR and Co did after the war.....this was over due to some unknown reason....please make Colombo a vary clean and a beautiful city....!!

    Sunday, 09 May 2010 07:19 AM

    They are not illegal residents but they are there for 100 years. If we talk that way we are all illegal tenents. You may have documents for your house from the one whom you bought, from whom did he buy, from whom that man buy?
    All were God created state lands, man accquired. From whom the Horagolla was bought? It was a gift from the British for loyal service. British owned our country by gun so they gave our land to our people as their gift. Funny world.

    Sunday, 09 May 2010 07:19 AM

    DU....Read the whole article

    "UNP MP Sujeewa Serasinghe stated that the demolitions were illegal as the residents had documentation which was issued between 1986 and 1987 that proved the houses and apartments were legal and that legal action is to be taken against the authorities. "

    Sunday, 09 May 2010 07:24 AM

    Earlier UNP had a solution for this , they made flats on the same vicinity and handed over to them , For example , Infront of Nawaloka .Unfortunatly we lost those UNP leaders.

    Sunday, 09 May 2010 07:54 AM

    have to think before doing something like this. poor people. dont know when these people will get the brain instead of just a piece of meat in their heads.

    Sunday, 09 May 2010 07:58 AM

    You cant handle this issue like they handled the war, this is not a war against some terrorists. This concerns the abodes of poor people. One cannot simply throw whole families to the streests overnight and should consider it as a humanitarian issue. It could very well be that all these people voted for the opposition during the last two elections.

    Sunday, 09 May 2010 08:05 AM

    CAN THE UDA UNDER A UNP GOVT DO WHAT THEY DID TO THE PEOPLE IN THE SLAVE ISLAND AREAS?

    Sunday, 09 May 2010 08:16 AM

    MR and his goons dont have to have court orders. He thinks he is the best president on earth so does Gota, the best security advisor. You voted for them so swallow your own medicine

    Sunday, 09 May 2010 06:26 AM

    many of these illegal residents are blessed by various politicians for long time resulting insecure ,untidy and unplanned colombo . one of the most dirty cities i believe in the world, will see how gota handled this war. will he be able to bring some pride to the city? more importantly please try to provide them necessary shelter.

    Sunday, 09 May 2010 08:47 AM

    If you want to a clean city it is high time the authorities find places for these people to move and provide them with basic needs such schooling, water & electricity and not forgetting lands in solid grounds instead of mash lands. What does the POLICE think that they can come just do what they want and the people should look up and obey.

    Sunday, 09 May 2010 09:53 AM

    3 Day notice is not enough at all i believe for a person to find a shelter..infact if the deeds are legal and they are registered voters..how can UDA just demolish their properties without providing them the shelter and basic needs. Cleaning the city is obviously a good move but the process of doing things is the only problem here. I don't think government needs rocket science to sort this matter..

    Sunday, 09 May 2010 10:41 AM

    Will You come and settle in Beautiful colombo then?

    Sunday, 09 May 2010 10:45 AM

    When these ppl take to the streets,squat on the side walks,be pushed in to a life of unpleasantness maybe even crime .will colombo be a BEAUTIFUL city then????

    Sunday, 09 May 2010 11:16 AM

    This is a form of ethnic cleansing. They are targeting the minority communities both in Pettah and in Slave Island.

    Sunday, 09 May 2010 12:14 PM

    yes everybody wish to have a good and clean city, mostly the people live in the city for years. but they should have been first settled in proper alternate places before destroying their properties.

    Sunday, 09 May 2010 01:35 PM

    We salute the president and the Minister for clearing unautherised buildings. Do it fast even in other towns. People is behind President and the Gov.

    Sunday, 09 May 2010 01:35 PM

    For all those who supported the action of Goverment. I was resident of the same street. Luckly my house was not demolished. These are not huts or mudukku... They are legal house, which the ppl have been paying taxes for years. Goverment has supplied electricity for every single house. If they are illegal how come the ECB provided electricity. They have been given only 3 days notice. Did any one of you have a mind to think how many little children and elderly are there.. Whats gona happen to their schooling. What alternative has the goverment given? Until today how many of them would have had a meal.

    Sunday, 09 May 2010 02:01 PM

    SP Jayakody is talking only about the 2 police officers who got assaulted. Why he can't utter something related to the poor victims?


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