Fifty pc of Colombo population in settlements

Shirley Wijesinghe

Approximately 50 percent of the Colombo population live in 64 settlements within the municipal limits of Colombo, a study conducted by the National Fisheries Solidarity Movement has revealed.

These settlements are concentrated on State or private lands and are not owned by the occupants.

The areas are characterized by a very high population density, congested housing, lack of infrastructure facilities such as domestic water supply, drainage for waste and surface water, toilets, electricity and proper by roads.

The dependency on public services is at a high level, these constructions are illegal.

Families living in urban slums are trapped in a cycle of ill-health and poverty. Children are the first to suffer from the burden of disease caused by dirty water, poor hygienic facilities.

During the survey, it has been found that some families in Bloemendhal area of Colombo Municipality limit are below poverty level.

Although it is not adequate, the study concluded that the Government has made some effort to build houses for the people in slum areas. It is also revealed that some development projects tend to remove people from their project area to create a pleasant environment.

However they fail to provide adequate alternatives to slum dwellers.

The main objective of the study was to look into land issues in Sri Lanka.