The Lament Of Wanathamulla “Evictees”

By Springer -February 17, 2014 

Gotabaya

The news that those living in low income urban settlements  will get alternative accommodation in high rise apartments, may really excite the average Sri Lankan of a less analytical mind. However the story is actually about not doing right, but using might. This is the usual cruel and boorish behavior of Gotabaya Rajapaksaand his abetters in the now infamous UDA. The acronym UDA can be changed from Urban Development Authority to Unauthorised Demolition Action.

In yet another move to evict residents of these settlements, abjectly unjust treatment is being dished out to over 2500 families. This is in the location of Wanathamulla, Borella in Colombo 8 and includes the 34^th , 45^th , 49^th, 51^st , 63^rd  and 66^th  “wattes” or sections as well as those residents on Saranapala Himi Mawatha. The relatively affluent and powerful who bum suck the regime live in Section C and are not very much under threat.  Many of these 2500 families, have proper deeds given to their forefathers under Municipal Housing Schemes. The houses though small in extent have seen substantial value addition, over several generations. Some of these units are valued at sums to the tune of 4 to 5 million.

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