No forcible eviction from lodges

COLOMBO: The Government yesterday reiterated that the Security Forces or the Police will not forcibly evict people from their temporary residence in lodges and small hotels in Colombo.

The Media Centre for National Security in a release said however, the Government wished to inform all residents from North and East who are temporary occupants of lodges and hotels in Colombo that they should be able to legally establish their identity and reasons for their stay for security reasons prevailing under the current security situation in the country.

The Government would like to caution, the public that the Security Forces and the Police would be taking legal action against those who fail to establish their identity and reasons to overstay, the release said.

People who arrive in Colombo for any necessity are urged to return to their permanent residences without delay and in that if they are faced with transportation problems, the Security Forces and the Police are ready to provide them with the same on acceptable reasons.

The Government reiterated that this is purely a security measure being adopted to ensure the safety and security of all citizens irrespective of any ethnicity.