By

Saman Indrajith

JVP Parliamentary Group Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake told Parliament yesterday that land acquired after demolishing houses and business places in Colombo had not been done under the provisions of the Land Acquisition Act.

Making a special statement MP Dissanayake said people were being evicted and their houses and business places demolished in the Colombo City. That resulted in loss of their livelihood as well as their property.

All demolitions and evictions were carried out by military personnel taking cover behind the Urban Development Authority. The involvement of the army was illegal, Dissanayake said.

The MP said: “People are frightened into evicting. But, the government claims the military personnel are deployed under the provisions of the Gazette notification No 1817/31 of July 03, 2013. Even under the provisions of that particular gazette the military personnel could be deployed only for the purposes covered by the Section 12 of the Public Security Ordinance. The said section mentions that the military personnel could be summoned by the President only in the case of a public disturbance that cannot be brought under control by the police. But, today the military personnel are engaged in demolishing houses and evicting people though such a disturbance situation is not prevailing.

“Among the affected areas are Panchikawatte, Applewatte, several places in the North Colombo, Dematagoda, Narahenpita, a place opposite the Castle Street Hospital. Military personnel were involved in all those evictions.

“It could be seen that the army is used to achieve political objectives and not the purposes of the Urban Development Authority. It had been planned to acquire all the valuable lands in the city and sell them off to various companies and persons. After chasing the people from their homes, they are provided with little hovels resembling chicken coops. The best example of this is the Mihindusenpura built recently at Dematagoda. Although it is claimed that 380 sq. ft. have been allocated for each family there are not even 350 sq. ft. Only two persons could live in a space of 380 square feet.

“If the government wants to acquire a particular land it has to be done in accordance with the provisions of the Land Acquisition Act. Today, that is being done in violation of the law. There is also a procedure outlined in the Act as to how the owners of those acquired land are to be compensated. But, today the people are removed from their houses without paying any compensation.

“The biggest land grab in Colombo area is taking place at the Wanathamulla area in Borella. According to available information, the government is planning to acquire around 72 acres of land in this area. Numbers are put up on houses at Saranapala Himi Road, Ganga Pahala and 188 Watte on the Kotta Road and people living there are asked to fill forms. They have been named as people to be evicted. While there are some persons who have been living on unauthorised lands, the majority have deeds and instruments for their lands.

“While this process is on, Samaradheera Sunil of 43 Watte of Wanathamulla was taken away in a white van on Feb. 13, 2014. He was abducted while he was returning from the Peliyagoda Fish market. The people of the area mounted a protest against this abduction.

“Then, the DIG Colombo Anura Senanayake arrived there and promised to protestors that the abducted person would be released. Thereafter around 4.00 pm the victim was found. Residents of the area believe that there was a connection between the on-going land grab and the abduction. It is the opinion of the people that the police spokesman distorts facts to hide the truth about the incident.”

MP Dissanayake demanded to know why the provisions of the Land Acquisition Act were not being followed in acquiring land in Colombo District; whether the government thought that a house of 350 sq. ft. was sufficient for a family to live in; how the evicted persons would be compensated; what purpose these lands have been acquired for and whether the perpetrators involved in the recent abduction incident at Wanathamulla had been identified.
COURTESY:THE ISLAND