UDA not involved

Uditha KUMARASINGHE and Irangika RANGE

Chief Government Whip Urban Development and Sacred Area Development Minister Dinesh Gunawardane told Parliament yesterday that there is no involvement of his Ministry or the Urban Development Authority in the removal of the unauthorised constructions in Pettah area on August 19.

The Minister was responding to a supplementary question raised by the JVP MP Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

MP Dissanayake asked Trade and consumer Affairs Minister Bandula Gunawardane under whose instructions these unauthorised shops in Pettah were removed.

Minister Bandula Gunawardane said the policy of his Ministry is to establish new shops and not to remove the shops.

Minister Dinesh Gunawardane said," it would give a wrong impression to the public as the MP in his statement mentioned my name as well. "I would like to state that my Ministry or UDA has no connection on the removal of these unauthorised constructions in Pettah."